Tram and Bus Express: News and views from life in the bus & tram lanes
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Member Update: 12 February 2021
Dear members,
This week, we were once again reminded of the fickle nature of the virus and that we are still in the midst of a pandemic. We hope that those of you in the South-West Sydney region are keeping safe following the recent Wollongong case.
Mask-wearing continues to be mandatory on public transport, with some exemptions for transport workers as outlined in the recent Branch Bulletin. You can also find a Mask Q&A for quick explainers on the current situation.
Keeping on the topics of masks, a reprehensible incident involving a passenger abusing a bus driver has surfaced on the social media platform TikTok. The footage appears to show a woman abusing a driver after being politely asked to wear a mask, photographing him with her phone and hammering on his protective barrier. Such behaviour shows the need for greater resources to enforce transport regulations and protect workers from abuse. Divisional Secretary David Babineau gave comment in response to the incident, which you can read here.
In other news now.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed that 1200 extra transport services that have been operating since December 2020 will extend until the end of March to keep commuters socially distanced. The number of cleaning staff on services will also be bumped up accordingly.
And a new report by International Association of Public Transport in Australia and New Zealand (UITPANZ) has found that a national plan to speed up the electric bus transition will be crucial to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, which the Prime Minister made a pledge to achieving earlier this week.
Once again, we encourage you to show your support for the most recent RTBU campaign calling for the government to protect COVID-vulnerable workers.The petition targets workers with pre-existing conditions who are more susceptible to adverse effects from the virus. Implementing a financial support system similar to JobKeeper will allow them to remain safe at home and securely employed to ensure they can stay out of harm's way. As essential workers, we know that a way to ensure safe and secure employment in the face of adversity should be a right for all.
We are continuing to appeal to members to please give generously to the donation account we have set up for Michael Yammouni, a TSA bus driver from Leichhardt bus depot. Michael has been involved in an accident that has tragically resulted in the death of a pedestrian. All funds from the account will go towards Michael's legal defence. View the details on where to donate here.
We hope that you continue to stay safe and well.
Leichhardt Depot BBQ
Following on from our pitstop at Mona Vale Depot, we'll be setting up shop at Leichhardt Depot next!
Leichhardt Depot
Monday 15th February
11:00am to 1:00pm
We look forward to seeing Members face-to-face more throughout the year.
Region 6 Headway Management System
It’s something that won’t be familiar to many bus drivers but is very familiar to tram drivers; managing services based on the gap between vehicles and not a timetable. It is the intention of TfNSW to eventually have every service that runs every 15mins or more often to eventually be ‘headway services’. That means the public is told a bus will be every 10mins or so and the buses are run to that. As we all know, usually buses on a frequency timetable end up bunching up one way or another. The new system will mean that drivers will be contacted at bus stops and told to hold departure if necessary, as well as monitoring the gap themselves. To assist this process, TSA in Region 6 have introduced a Samsung tablet into the driver cabin.
The first issue was that they wanted to mount it in ways that reduced windscreen visibility, but we got that fixed fairly quickly. The remaining issues the union has with this are-
1. It’s a distraction that drivers do not need and a safety issue. The screen moves when it updates and there’s a coloured section to catch the eye.
2. It’s further stress seeing a constant timer telling you how late you are in relation to the bus in front of you.
3. It’s a new way of driving with a new perspective. As such we’d like an allowance for it.
The company has effectively said-
1. Drivers are told not to look at it while driving, so everything will be fine.
2. They’ll be fine, we’re super nice about this stuff.
3. Get stuffed, try and get it during EA negotiations.
Once again, drivers are having all the responsibility for something dumped on them. It’s a tablet screen put in place specifically to be monitored and the safety measure TSA settled on was ‘don’t look at the screen’. How helpful. The union position is that the screens need to go into sleep mode while the bus is in motion, just like the BDC. It’s that simple. This would also solve the stress issue because it would only show your timing when you were at a bus stop, much like checking your journal and seeing how you’re running when doing timetabled work.
This issue has been put into dispute and the status quo clause applies meaning no RTBU members are to touch these tablets in a bus, and you cannot face disciplinary measures for refusing to if you’re instructed. Training in the depot is one thing, playing with it in buses is another. The company has reported that the IT firm they use says the screens CANNOT be put into sleep mode. They haven’t explained why, and they haven’t provided minutes for the Workplace Health and Safety meeting that the union has requested. We’d like to see exactly what process TSA went through to come to the conclusion that there was nothing more appropriate than a verbal instruction to drivers. We’d hate to think that because something would cost a little bit, like a software fix, that cheaper options may be preferred.
Currently the Headway Management System is only at Leichhardt Depot and in Region 3 (the other region TSA operates) but stay tuned because this will be in ALL the new contracts from now on.
More as the situation develops.
Media Release: TikTok video of bus driver abuse shows urgent need to respect workers and better enforce Covid regulations
Greater resources are needed to enforce transport regulations and protect workers from abuse, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) NSW has said, after a TikTok video of an attack on a Sydney bus driver has gone viral.
The footage appears to show a woman abusing a driver after being politely asked to wear a mask, photographing him with her phone and hammering on his protective barrier.
David Babineau, Secretary of the Tram and Bus Division, said the NSW Government must properly enforce its transport regulations or it will continue to place frontline transport workers at risk.
Read Divisional Secretary David Babineau's full statement here.
Mask Update and Q&A
We've recently updated the Mask Q&A to keep up to speed with state health direction. The NSW Government has fine tuned the direction for mandatory masks. After representations by unions including the RTBU, the government has introduced a degree of common sense to the Public Health Order.
Public Health Order Exemption: Mandatory Face Coverings
Members are advised of a recent exemption to the mandatory wearing of face masks on public transport issued by NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard MP.
The order states a person is exempt from wearing a mask if they:
- Are at premises, at a public transport waiting area, or in a vehicle for the purposes [of] their employment or engagement; AND
- Are not interacting directly with members of the public.
This is limited to staff, contractors, volunteers, or workers at the premises.
This means that LRV operators do not have to wear a mask whilst inside the driver’s cabin, and that bus drivers running special do not have to wear a mask.
The RTBU will continue to support health advice for the safety of our members and the traveling public.
Full health orders and exemptions can be found on the NSW Government Health website.
If you have any questions, please contact your local delegate or organiser.
Let’s look after COVID-Vulnerable workers, and keep Australians safe.
Australia is doing an incredible job of containing the COVID-19 virus. But when outbreaks occur, not everyone can work from home during a lockdown - and this loss of income is disastrous for workers and their families.
The RTBU is launching its campaign for a COVID-Vulnerable worker payment, allowing workers to continue receiving their full pay, while staying at home and out of harm’s way during a lockdown period. Help us keep Australia and its workers safe.
Donations for TSA Driver Michael Yammouni
Donations are being collected to assist a TSA bus driver from Leichhardt bus depot. Michael has been involved in an accident that has tragically resulted in the death of a pedestrian.
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 Michael’s legal defence. Add your name or depot location to the deposit reference field so Michael 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.
RTBU Gift Cards - Activate before the deadline
In order to use your RTBU Gift Cards, please activate your card by March 31st. The card is valid until September 30th.
Extra NSW public transport services to continue for COVID-safe travel
Thousands of additional public transport services will be extended and a new crack cleaning squad will hit the busiest CBD stations to keep increasing numbers of commuters COVID-safe.
More than 1200 additional services introduced in early December have been extended into autumn, running until at least the end of March to keep commuters socially distanced.
The additional services include 600 weekly night bus services between 9pm and 1am on Friday and Saturday; 300 weekly Nightrider services from midnight to 4.30am on Friday and Saturday; 236 extra weekend services to Bondi, Coogee and Manly beach; and 70 weekly light rail services on the L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford Lines from 7pm on Wednesday to Sunday.
States must accelerate electric bus plans to meet net zero pledges
Following Prime Minister Scott Morrison's comments pledging net zero emissions by 2050, a new report by International Association of Public Transport in Australia and New Zealand (UITPANZ) has found that a national plan to speed up the electric bus transition will be crucial to achieving this goal.
UITPANZ, whose members include government authorities and public transport operators, said its members want “clean” public transport.
“The NSW Government is working to electrify the states 8,000 buses by 2030, and the recently re-elected Queensland, ACT and New Zealand Governments, as well as the Victorian Government, have announced their intentions to switch from diesel to zero emissions buses,” UITPANZ head Michelle Batsas said.
“They’ve got the social licence to make significant changes to reduce carbon emissions, and zero emissions buses are an important part of achieving that.”
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.
In solidarity,
David Babineau and Daniel Jaggers
