Tram and Bus Express: News and views from life in the bus & tram lanes
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Member Update: 18 December 2020
Dear members,
As we deliver this last edition of the Express for 2020, we want to say a very big, and very heartfelt, thank you for what has been a most challenging year for us all.
There’s no doubt this year has put us through more trials and tribulations than ever before. But we've stood our ground, united and steadfast, as we fought tooth and nail for whatever came our way. From the ongoing bus privatisation, to your safety throughout the global pandemic, and every important thing in between. We've come out stronger as a result.
We'd like to start by highlighting some of our favourite hard-hitting achievements of the year, including:
- Successfully registering an Enterprise Agreement with the CSELR after negotiations first began in 2019. This included keeping a paid meal break for all classifications represented by the RTBU.
- Working with local community members and local MPs to establish a new route in Newcastle East, giving the residents some quiet and the members more work.
- Winning backpay for Pyrmont light rail drivers covering 2014-2016
- Winning a Federal Court Case against Transit Systems regarding the Easter Saturday dispute. This is in the process of being paid out.
We've also been thriving off support from members and the public to keep up the fight against the privatisation of Sydney's last remaining public bus routes. While COVID-19 meant that drivers decided not to pursue industrial action, the fight remains to have to travelling public included in the decision making for service changes. We are supporting community groups as they find out exactly what Minister Constance has in store for them.
The action, bolstered by public support, was taken up all the way to NSW Parliament as we demanded for the decision-makers to hear our voice. And we weren't held back by COVID restrictions. No, we all showed impressive agility to adapt our demonstrations to comply with public health and safety measures so that we could keep fighting against bus privatisation. Endless streams petitions, letters, phone calls, and emails from members of the public who showed their support for us inundated MP offices. We've come one even stronger this year, but it's not ever yet! We'll be busy over the holiday break as we continue to protect our bus services from ruthless attacks. Of course, we also recognise the importance of taking a step back to breathe and spend time with family, and we hope that you all do this so that you feel refreshed and go into 2021 even more prepared for what's to come.
It hasn’t all been bus privatisation this year, of course – there have been plenty of other crucial issues impacting members that we’ve all been working on throughout the year. We cheekily got away with calling the proposed driverless buses in Newcastle an "idiot investment"; we united against the NSW Government over public transport mismanagement, which saw us engage with them over a 2-hour stop-work meeting; we fought for the health and safety of public transport workers by backing the call for mandatory mask wearing; we won backpay covering March 2019 to November 2020 after the STA stopped paying excess travel time for bus drivers acting up in higher grades. But this wasn't all! There were a massive amount of actions and wins this year and we encourage you to take the time to see everything we've achieved so far.
And we can't forget all the precious moments and generous hearts we've encountered throughout this unprecedented year. From handmade masks, to coffee cart treats, and BBQs where we could interact with members in person, it's the generosity and goodwill of members and supporters that have pushed us through when times were tough. We couldn't be more thankful.
It’s been another busy year, but it has been an honour to stand beside you and fight every day to protect your wages and conditions.
Of course as tram and bus drivers, many of us will be working over the festive season while the majority of people are taking time off. If that’s you this year, thank you. Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed.
2020 has been a year like no other, and 2021 will bring with it more challenges, but rest assured that we’re ready to face them head on.
To you and your families and loved ones, have a fantastic holiday season. Thank you for a whirlwind 2020, and we look forward to continuing to good fight against anyone who thinks that they can treat our members with disregard and disrespect in the New Year.
We hope that you continue to stay safe and well.
Masks to be handed out to commuters today
Residents in the northern beaches have been told to stay at home for three days. People from outside the area also have been asked to avoid any travel into or out of the northern beaches for at least three days. However, it appears train, bus and ferry services will operate to usual schedules on Friday.
Masks will be handed out at Wynyard train station, B-Line bus stops, which connect Wynyard and Mona Vale, and Circular Quay ferry wharves today, a NSW government spokesman said.
New agreement for the Inner West Line Tram Operators to be discussed in January 2021
The RTBU has scheduled a sit-down with Transdev in mid-to-late January 2021. The aim of this meeting is to start negotiating a new agreement for the Inner West Line Tram Operators, especially as their current EA expires on May 4th, 2021. In the new year, the Union will be sending out a survey to members in order to receive feedback about the type of outcomes you want from an agreement. The Union will keep members updated as the negotiations progress.
Sydney roads surging back to pre-COVID levels as public transport restrictions ease
Public transport services have eased capacity restrictions by up to 10% after the Berejiklian Government repealed the public health order to work from home on Monday.
From Monday, bus patronage increased from 23 to 27 passengers.
While Sydney traffic is returning, buses are almost 50% full, with some services exceeding the previous transport capacity, causing NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance to reiterate the need for masks when commuting.
Ransomware outed as cause of STA outage
The NSW Auditor-General has confirmed that a three-day systems outage at STA earlier this year which caused significant disruption was caused by a ransomware attack. This outage caused the STA to revert to paper-based processes, including for the scheduling of buses, across all eight bus depots and caused issues with pay and rosters for weeks.
This comes after former Transport Secretary, Rodd Staples, dismissed a link between the outage and a cyber security incident being investigated by Transport for NSW at the time.
Sydney Light Rail: One year on
As the Sydney Light Rail marks a years since it boarded its first passengers, reviews of it have not been favourable.
The forecasted 86,000 passenger take-on in 2013 suffered a drastic 84% dip to only 14,000. NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance has attributed this to COVID-19, however it is still quite large compared to the approximately 45% drop in the passengers using trains and buses during the pandemic.
Adding salt to an already gaping wound, the state budget revealed that the light rail has the lowest passenger satisfaction rating.
As the public votes with its feet, there is still work to be done to tweak services for convenience.
Parramatta Light Rail: Stop names proposed, WSU campuses snubbed
The Geographical Names Board is seeking community feedback on a proposal by Transport for NSW to name 16 light rail stops along the Parramatta line.
Names in the Indigenous Darug language - Darug being the traditional country on which much of Western Sydney lies - are on the table. For example, Garung near the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Garung is a Darug word for a baby or small child. And Ngara, in the current Cumberland Hospital’s East Campus, means to listen, hear and think in the Darug language.
“These names recognise the rich culture and diverse history of this area and will embed the fabric of the local community into the Parramatta Light Rail.” says Parramatta Light Rail program director Anand Thomas.
However, Western Sydney University (WSU) will not be present on any stop name despite the light rail pulling up at the 3 campuses on the live (Parramatta, Westmead, and Rydalmere). Instead, WSU as a whole will be incorporated into the Yallamundi stop. Western Sydney Business Chamber executive director David Borger has slammed this decision, saying that: “Western Sydney University is one of the cornerstone institutions of Parramatta and its contribution to shaping our city should be recognised in the naming of at least one of the Parramatta Light Rail stops"
When questioned, WSU says it welcomes the use of Darug language to name stops.
Camellia land deal: Internal probe into toxic land scandal reveals agency flouted rules
An internal investigation by NSW's transport department into the controversial purchase of contaminated land at Camellia from a large developer found land was purchased without a valuation. This means that the deal broke basic rules.
The audit confirms that Transport for NSW management "accelerated" the acquisition after it was approached but failed to obtain a formal independent valuation of the property.
This comes following the revelation that the state government paid three times the land's value, and the report of toxic waste in the area, which was supposed to become a light rail depot.
Despite the risks identified in the audit, Transport for NSW did not initially refer the Camellia land deal to the ICAC, until NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance referred it on November 12; two years after the first questions were raised about the purchase.
Donations for STA Driver Roy Stanton
Donations are being collected to assist an STA bus driver from Randwick bus depot. Roy has been involved in an accident that has tragically resulted in the death of a delivery driver.
We’ve all had and seen near misses and know how easily this could happen to any one of us. The RTBU has set up an account for drivers to donate to and help with Roy’s legal defence. Add your name or depot location to the deposit reference field so Roy knows who has contributed.
Thank you for supporting our colleague as he traverses this most difficult of times.
View the details on where to donate on the Tram & Bus website.
COVID-19: FAQs
We are constantly updating the COVID-19 frequently asked questions section of the website, so please make sure you head there and have a look. If you still have questions, please don't hesitate to contact your local delegate or the Division office at nswbus@rtbu-nsw.asn.au.
Thanks for your essential work during a time of crisis.
Stay safe and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
In solidarity,
David Babineau and Daniel Jaggers
