Metro bus drivers ready to strike if talks to improve wages fail
Industrial action hasn’t yet impacted bus services, however the union says drivers might still walk off the job. Here’s why.
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Metro Tasmanian will need to improve its pay offer if it wants to stop escalating industrial action by drivers and attract more staff to fill gaps in the roster, their union says.
The Rail Bus and Tram union says Metro’s current offer amounts to a pay freeze and will do nothing to address the driver shortage with has led to service cuts.
Work bans began on Thursday and are not expected to affect services but union members have voted for escalating action including walking off the job for up to 72 hours at a time if progress is not made in talks over the coming weeks.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union Tasmania secretary Byron Cubit said for the time being bus drivers would work to rule in the hope of reaching agreement.
“Drivers will continue to do the work they are paid for, and required to do,” he said.
“The fact is, however, that drivers often go ‘above and beyond’ to help Metro deliver its services and to ensure members of the public are not left stranded.
“We therefore expect that there will be some minor impact on services from these industrial actions.”
Further talks in the long-running negotiations are expected over the next two Tuesdays.
The key points of contention are pay increases.
Metro says it has offered pay rises of ten per cent in the first year a new agreement, followed by three per cent in each of the two following years.
The union say the ten per cent was paid last year, so this year’s rise would amount to nothing.
It is seeking an improvement to the pay structure for drivers and better conditions including critical incident leave for drivers impacted by ongoing anti-social behaviour across the public transport network.
Mr Cubit said bus drivers would consider applying further industrial actions if suitable progress towards an agreement was not made.
Services for the however the upcoming Point to Pinnacle event would not be affected, he said.
“Bus drivers have not taken this decision lightly. The last thing they want to do is interrupt the services that Tasmanians rely on.
“Last year’s temporary pay rise for bus drivers slowed the exodus of workers, but did not deliver the workforce boost that Metro needs to reinstate hundreds of suspended services.
“The only way to restore Metro’s workforce is to lock in last year’s pay rise for drivers and build on it through a new EBAs that deliver fair pay, safer work conditions and better support for bus drivers.
A Metro spokesman said the company had made a generous pay offer.
“Metro will continue to negotiate in good faith on a fair, reasonable and affordable EA,” a spokesman said.
“Metro has a business continuity plan in place that will minimise any disruption to passengers.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Metro bus drivers ready to strike if talks to improve wages fail
Ferguson’s fate hangs by a single vote
Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson’s future in cabinet hangs in the balance after Labor demands he be sacked from the position for his “incompetent” handling of the ferries project. The latest.
Latrobe woman takes days to “ponder” Lotto win
The prize was left unclaimed all week while lottery organisers tried to find the lucky winners. Read what happened when the Latrobe couple finally came forward.