Transit Systems bus drivers walk off as more strike action looms
Bus driver strikes have seen commuters’ Thursday morning journey put on pause, with more strike action expected in coming days.
NSW
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Bus driver strikes have seen commuters’ Thursday morning journey put on pause, with more strike action expected in coming days.
Drivers for bus operator Transit Systems, which runs dozens of routes in Sydney’s Inner West and South West, slammed on the brakes before dawn on Thursday morning as part of a pay dispute.
The NSW Transport Workers’ Union wrote on social media that drivers were seeking equal pay.
“Transit Systems Buses are off the road this morning. Union Members are on strike because Transit Systems are not coming to the negotiation table,” the TWU wrote.
“All that bus drivers are asking for is the simple guarantee that if you drive a public bus in Sydney, you’ll get paid the same as everyone else doing the same job. The operator Transit Systems, and the State Government, have chosen to ignore these drivers so they’ve been left with no alternative but to take strike action to have their voices heard.”
Dozens of drivers were expected to stop work with workers from the Hoxton Park and Burwood depots pictured taking part between 4am and 6am.
It comes as the TWU revealed further plans to strike in the days to come on Tuesday.
Following today’s strike, workers in Region 3 and Region 6 of Sydney will again walk off the job at peak hour on Friday between 5pm and 7pm.
A 24 hour strike is also planned for Monday, with hundreds of services expected to be affected.
TWU NSW State Secretary Richard Olsen said drivers were left with no other option.
“The operator Transit Systems, and the State Government, have chosen to ignore these drivers so they’ve been left with no alternative but to take strike action to have their voices heard,“ Mr Olsen said.
“These bus drivers have turned up day-in, day-out throughout the pandemic to serve the community – the last thing they want to do is go on strike, but the company’s stubborn refusal to negotiate has left them with no other option.”
He added: “We are calling on Transit Systems and the State Government to stop playing games, and to come to the table to reach a fair agreement with these drivers, including same-job same-pay.”
The strikes come after drivers turned off Opal card readers last Monday and for the first three days of this week.
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