Surfside Buslines to be affected by 24-hour strike on January 31, as they demand for a pay increase
Gold Coast bus drivers and cleaners will go on strike for 24 hours for the second time within a month as they call for immediate pay increases.
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Gold Coast bus drivers and cleaners will go on strike for 24 hours for the second time within a month as they call for immediate pay increases.
Transport Worker’s Union members and bus drivers have planned a protected industrial action for Tuesday, January 31.
South East Queensland Kinetic General Manager James Saltmer said there would be significant impacts for the Gold Coast and Tweed communities from 12.05am on January 31 to 12.05am on February 1.
“We will endeavour to run as many school buses as possible to ensure student safety,” he said.
Mr Saltmer said they had met with the Transport Worker’s Union twice to try and reach an agreement.
He said in an effort to avoid the strike, Kinetic offered the Transport Worker’s Union and drivers an immediate pay increase of 8.2 per cent, which they would date back to October 2022.
The pay increase would bring full-time driver rates above $30 per hour.
He said there would be another pay increase of four per cent from October 2023.
“This offer is above wage rate increases called for by the Transport Worker’s Union during industrial action taken on December 20, 2022,” Mr Saltmer said.
“We highly value our team and believe this pay increase reflects current cost-of-living pressures while ensuring operational viability during uncertain economic times.”
He said, while Kinetic respected the rights of their team members, they were “disappointed” it would affect the community.
“Kinetic apologies sincerely to our passengers for the substantial impact this will have on Gold Coast commuters,” Mr Saltmer said.
“It is disappointing this will occur prior to all team members having the opportunity to vote on Kinetic’s revised financial offer.”
Kinetic advised all passengers to find alternative transport where possible and to be patient with the team who were working on the day.
He said they would continue to urgently try and find a new agreement with their drivers and team members.
This industrial action comes only a month after drivers and cleaners went on a six-hour strike, affecting hundreds of Gold Coasters.
Broadbeach resident Maddie Reith, who takes a bus to a tram stop as part of a lengthy daily commute to Brisbane, said she supported the strike action despite the disruption it would cause her.
‘Breaking point’: Commuter chaos as bus drivers go on strike
Gold Coast bus drivers and cleaners will go on strike for 24 hours for the second time within a month as they call for immediate pay increases.
Transport Worker’s Union members and bus drivers have planned a protected industrial action for Tuesday, January 31.
South East Queensland Kinetic General Manager James Saltmer said there would be significant impacts for the Gold Coast and Tweed communities from 12.05am on January 31 to 12.05am on February 1.
“We will endeavour to run as many school buses as possible to ensure student safety,” he said.
Mr Saltmer said they had met with the Transport Worker’s Union twice to try and reach an agreement.
He said in an effort to avoid the strike, Kinetic offered the Transport Worker’s Union and drivers an immediate pay increase of 8.2 per cent, which they would date back to October 2022.
The pay increase would bring full-time driver rates above $30 per hour.He said there would be another pay increase of four per cent from October 2023.
“This offer is above wage rate increases called for by the Transport Worker’s Union during industrial action taken on December 20, 2022,” Mr Saltmer said.
“We highly value our team and believe this pay increase reflects current cost-of-living pressures while ensuring operational viability during uncertain economic times.”
He said, while Kinetic respected the rights of their team members, they were “disappointed” it would affect the community.
“Kinetic apologies sincerely to our passengers for the substantial impact this will have on Gold Coast commuters,” Mr Saltmer said.
“It is disappointing this will occur prior to all team members having the opportunity to vote on Kinetic’s revised financial offer.”
Kinetic advised all passengers to find alternative transport where possible and to be patient with the team who were working on the day.
He said they would continue to urgently try and find a new agreement with their drivers and team members.
This industrial action comes only a month after drivers and cleaners went on a six-hour strike, affecting hundreds of Gold Coasters.
Broadbeach resident Maddie Reith, who takes a bus to a tram stop as part of a lengthy daily commute to Brisbane, said she supported the strike action despite the disruption it would.
PREVIOUSLY: DECEMBER 20
Gold Coast bus services will be hit by strike action on Tuesday after talks between management and unions on a pay offer broke down.
Surfside drivers and cleaners who are seeking wage increases in line with the rising cost of living will go on strike for six hours from 4am to 10am, with knock-on effects expected throughout the day.
Transport Workers Union (TWU) Queensland Director of Organising Jared Abbott said the workers were at a breaking point.
“Queensland bus driver wages are at the bottom end of the scale across the country and internationally, and we must invest now in order to maintain a strong and effective public transport network across Queensland,” he said.
“The strike shows a failure of bargaining for public transport workers in Queensland.”
Mr Abbott said operators Kinetic/Surfside had presented “insulting” offers.
GOLD COAST BUS ROUTES BEING CUT DUE TO EXTREME DRIVER SHORTAGE
“If driver wage funding continue to be pegged to WPI (the Wage Price Index), there is an incentive for contractors to keep wages low,” he said.
“We need to invest in our public transport in order to ensure that we have a safe and sustainable network now an din the lead up to the 2032 Olympics.”
James Salter, Kinetic’s General Manager for South East Queensland, said the company had tried to reach an agreement with the TWU and were disappointed they had chosen to take industrial action.
“We apologise to our passengers for any inconvenience,” he said.
Mr Salter said they encouraged commuters to allow more time for their journey or seek alternative transport where possible.
SURFSIDE BUSLINES FORCED TO CANCEL ROUTES DUE TO SHORTAGE OF GOLD COAST BUS DRIVERS
Broadbeach resident Maddie Reith, who takes a bus to a tram stop as part of a lengthy daily commute to Brisbane, said she supported the strike action despite the disruption it would cause her.
“The strike is going to make things even harder for me,” she said.
“It’s exhausting as it is. Now I will need to ... get expensive Ubers or taxis (to reach the trams).”
However Ms Reith said she sympathises with bus drivers and cleaners because of the “constant awful behaviour” on buses.
“I did not realise they were underpaid but after constantly witnessing awful behaviour or ungrateful and bratty youths, I fully support a pay rise,” Ms Reith said.
“I would also support security being on trams and night time buses 24/7.
“I often feel unsafe.
“... What we really need is effective public transport.”
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Originally published as Surfside Buslines to be affected by 24-hour strike on January 31, as they demand for a pay increase
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