Metro mechanics vote 100 per cent no to pay deal

Metro Tasmania mechanics unanimously rejected a proposed wage deal and the union says it could mean further delays to interrupted services.

Metro Tasmania buses. PIC: MATT THOMPSON

Metro Tasmania mechanics have unanimously rejected a new enterprise agreement which their union says will jeopardise the restoration of cancelled bus services.

Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union acting Tasmanian secretary Jacob Batt said it was “unprecedented and astounding” that the mechanics had voted “100 per cent” no to the new agreement.

Metro says it is trying to find a resolution to the dispute and Transport Minister Eric Abetz has encouraged the parties to “resolve their differences as a matter of priority”.

Mr Batt said it took a question in state parliament for Metro to reveal that 100 per cent of the mechanical team had rejected the agreement.

“The proposed agreement would have seen mechanics continued to be paid up to $10 less than the industry rate of pay, meaning the one-third of vacant positions would not be filled,” he said.

Jacob Batt, Australian Manufacturing Workers• Union State Organiser with striking Metro mechanics at Glenorchy. Picture: Chris Kidd

“You would expect an employer would want to ensure the recruitment and retention of workers but this is completely missed by Metro management.”

Mr Batt said a motion put by independent David O’Byrne had passed the House of Assembly calling on the state government to restore cancelled Metro bus routes.

“Metro will not be able to restore the cancelled bus routes with one-third of mechanic positions vacant,” he said.

Metro Tasmania buses – File pics, MTT, bus driver, passengers, bus ticket, Elizabeth Street bus mall. PIC: MATT THOMPSON

“Again, it is the public that suffers who cannot get to school, work and activities with diminished public transport.

“While Transport Minister Eric Abetz said he thinks it’s in the best interests of management and workers to have a stable workforce, and indicated the more attractive management can make it to stay would assist with this – the mechanics, apprentices and the public now need to see this occur.”

A Metro spokesperson said voting on the engineering enterprise agreement was held from May 13 to 15 and “unfortunately, the proposed agreement did not pass”.

“Metro acknowledges and respects this outcome and remains committed to achieving a positive and mutually beneficial outcome for our engineering team,” he said.

“Metro is currently reviewing the next steps to find a resolution that is fair, affordable, and demonstrates our value of our Engineering team.”

Metro Tasmania suspended about 180 services due to a lack of drivers.

Former Transport Minister Michael Ferguson announced an $8.1m support package for Metro in September last year to help its workforce shortage and stamp out anti-social behaviour on buses.

Originally published as Metro mechanics vote 100 per cent no to pay deal