Northern beaches bus boss tells drivers they will be ‘ripped a new one’ in shocking work memo

Northern beaches’ bus drivers have been told they will be “ripped a new one” if they don’t improve. See the shocking management memo.

AN investigation is underway into a “threatening” memo to bus drivers from a manager with the private company that is now running bus services on the northern beaches.

The quirkily worded internal message — written in informal language — targeting drivers at the Keolis Downer Mona Vale bus depot, suggested the employees would be “ripped a new one” if their work performance did not improve.

“If you happen to come up on the list of incomplete trips I am going to allow you the pleasure of feeling of what it’s like to have a new one ripped into you,” the memo circulated earlier this month states.

Bus drivers at the Mona Vale Depot have been told in a management memo that they will be “ripped a new one” if they do not improve their performance. File picture: Adam Yip / Manly Daily

Thousands of bus services on the peninsula, and lower north shore, are now being delivered by French transport giant Keolis Downer as part of an agreement to run the buses on behalf of the NSW Government, which started on October 31.

Earlier in the memo, signed by “Ivan” and under a Keolis Downer letterhead, stated that he wanted the drivers to know “how I ended up with two arseholes”.

The author explained that he had been castigated at a weekly operations meeting about the number of routes not being completed by drivers out of the Mona Vale depot.

He wrote that after the updated figures were shown on a TV screen to managers, “all the eyes in the room shifted towards me and I felt a slight anus tingle.

An internal investigation into the threatening memo is under way at the Mona Vale depot File picture: Martin Lange

“By the time the meeting adjourned I was the not so proud holder of a new exit point.

“They had ripped me a new one.”

The author then went on to write that he was was making a “deal” with the drivers.

“I have asked for the report to include staff numners and if you happen to come up on the list of incomplete trips I am going to allow you the pleasure of feeling of what it’s like to have a new one ripped into you. Fair?”

he ended the memo with: “Have a great weekend”.

David Babineau, secretary of the Tram and Bus Division of the RTBU NSW described the memo as “disgraceful” and “threatening”.

“There’s no question that this is an appalling way to speak to your workers,” Mr Babineau said.

Private transport company Keolis Downer now runs public bus services on the northern beaches, including the B-Line. Picture: Adam Yip / Manly Daily

“Local bus drivers are working throughout Christmas to keep the community moving, they’ve been putting themselves in harm’s way through the pandemic, and now they’re being subjected to this disgraceful memo from a superior.

“It’s not good enough.

“Threatening workers in this way should never be accepted, and we understand that the matter is being treated with the utmost seriousness by higher management.

“Urgent action should be taken to ensure this doesn’t ever happen again.”

Keolis Downer confirmed the memo was genuine and that the company was offering counselling to staff involved.

“The memo distributed to staff of Mona Vale Depot is not representative of Keolis Downer Northern Beaches and will be investigated thoroughly,” A spokesman said.

“All group communications are to be approved centrally by the KDNB Leadership Team and refrain from personal commentary and opinion.”

Keelah Lam of Fairlight, at a protest against privatisation of bus services, outside Brookvale bus depot in November 2019. AAP IMAGE / MARK SCOTT)

“Further support and assistance will be provided to the staff of Mona Vale Depot in response to this memo.”

Transport for NSW said as a new bus operator to the northern beaches, Keolis Downer was “always looking for ways to improve service delivery to the customer”.

“Drivers completing routes is one area Keolis Downer are looking into as an opportunity to improve service delivery to the customer.”

Signs at an anti-public bus privatisation demonstration outside NSW Liberal MP for Wakehurst, Brad Hazzard's electorate office at Dee Why. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Keolis Downer said in November that all State Transit bus drivers and maintenance staff were offered a two-year job guarantee under the new operator. Nearly 900 people have accepted roles to transfer across to Keolis Downer.

As part of the franchising deal, the government still decides the timetable and routes.

It said the move would improve customer service and on-time running as well as provide better value for money for taxpayers.