North shore bus drivers deliver petition to reverse privatisation plans
A State Government plan to privatise bus services in Sydney’s north has hit a roadblock in the form of a petition signed by 22,000 people.
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Thousands of commuters and bus drivers have put their names on a petition calling for the State Government to reverse privatisation plans for buses in Sydney’s north.
Drivers including staff from the Willoughby depot delivered the petition to NSW parliament on Thursday opposing the ‘franchising’ of the region six and seven bus networks, covering the Sydney’s northern suburbs, along with region nine services in the city’s east.
The petition, signed by 22,000 people, comes after the government announced it would open the contracts to a competitive tender process by 2023.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said soaring demand on State Transit services meant the government had to act “to lift the standard” of services across the region.
He said there would be jobs for the majority of staff, including bus drivers and maintenance workers, whose jobs will be guaranteed for two years.
However, David Babineau from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU), said privatisation could result in reduced services in affected areas.
He said concern among bus drivers centred on long-term job security and working conditions. Region eight depots are located in Willoughby, North Sydney, Brookvale and Mona Vale, while region seven buses operate out of a depot in Ryde.
“Drivers have seen what their colleagues have gone through with the privatisation of region six buses (in Sydney’s inner west) where work has been taken away from existing employees,” he said.
“The government may be an offering an employment guarantee which guarantee you’ll be employed but doesn't guarantee the conditions you’re employed under will remain the same.
“The base wage for a bus driver is roughly $59,000 a year and a lot of (drivers) are questioning why they would work for fewer penalty rates and conditions.”
Mr Babineau said many of the signatures on the petition had been contributed by residents who rely on bus services to commute from Sydney’s north to the CBD.
He said the number of signatures was more than double the 10,000 requirement needed to trigger a parliamentary debate
Mr Constance said the government would continue to own the region’s buses and assets, including depots, and would continue to set Opal fares and timetables as well as regulate safety and operational standards.
Latest figures by Transport for NSW show Region 7 and 8 buses ran 96.5 per cent on time in December 2019.
Lane Cove State Liberal MP Anthony Roberts said the shift to private was “exciting news” and would include rolling out a new fleet of on-demand and electric buses.
“The investment from private operators will allow the fleet of ageing, diesel-powered buses to be replaced by electric buses,” he said in a statement.
“The number of services is set to increase and this will cater to the enormous growth in patronage on our buses.”
The RTBU said approximately 300 staff were based out of the region eight depot in Willoughby.