Dear members,

As New South Wales records one new locally transmitted case and seven new cases from overseas travellers in hotel quarantine, Victoria continues to revel in their newfound freedom after Premier Daniel Andrews announced the reopening of Melbourne after gruelling days of strict lockdown. The record of zero cases and zero deaths in the state topping off the euphoria. Things are looking up and we couldn't be more excited.

Home visits throughout Melbourne were allowed as of Wednesday with a maximum of two adult visitors per house per day, plus any dependent children. Most retailers were also allowed to resume trade on the same day. Mask wearing remains mandatory into the holiday period and most likely further into 2021, a move we support.

Meanwhile, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian continues to call for the uptake of mask wearing on New South Wales public transport so that more people can start returning to work. A lack of confidence in this happening has hindered current plans to allow more commuters onto public transport in order to ensure public safety and the safety of transport workers.

Talks of border control were quick to emerge, with Premier Berejiklian reiterating her hard stance against re-opening the border to Victorians, warning that a zero-case record does not mean that Victoria is completely free of COVID-19.

Across to Tasmania, there are preparations to open the border to for New South Wales from November 6th, where case numbers will be monitored closer to the date. It could finally be time to book in a Christmas holiday down south.

It has been a week in which many of us have been holding our breath through a flood of news and change. 

We hope that you continue to stay safe and well.

COVID-19 Bus Screens

One of the early measures that were pushed by unions when the COVID-19 pandemic started was expanding, or in some case including for the first time, safety screens in all buses.

While many bus models have some form of protection for drivers, some are laughably small and there is little consistency across the various body types. Some companies like Transit Systems, rushed through a small expansion of about a foot. this was better than nothing but really more of a "look at us we’re concerned with driver safety" action. It did help somewhat, so that was still a positive thing.

In contrast to this has been the State Transit approach. The union was involved with STA throughout the process as were a great many drivers once the designs were near done and feedback was needed. Several depots had trials across all shift types in all conditions for about 3 weeks, with drivers encouraged to offer feedback based or real world conditions. More changes were made in response to driver feedback and eventually, slightly different designs were adopted for the different bus models.

While it’s certainly true to say that not everyone likes the idea of screens, the fact is that drivers continue to be assaulted, spat on, and abused. These screens, which are a lot more than just a bit of extra perspex bolted on, are of such a size that they taper to the contours of the cabin. Given that the month of August saw a further 5 spitting incidents reported just through STA, we are confident that the safety of drivers has been catered to in the most consultative way.

The fact that drivers themselves were so positive and had direct input into the design was a key factor in meeting the union’s concerns. Hopefully these screens, which will be fully rolled out by Christmas, will stand as something positive that was achieved during the pandemic and that has a lasting impact on keeping bus drivers safe in the future.

Lord Mayor calls for NSW Government to prioritise Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2

City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer has called on the NSW Government to stick to its commitment to construct Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 following media reports that the project is in doubt.

Cr Dwyer has implored the NSW Government and the public to recognise the benefits of timely transport infrastructure and its critical role in supporting the rapid transformation of the Western Sydney hub.

“Only with a strong public transport connection from the Parramatta CBD to growing residential suburbs and employment hubs will Sydney’s Central River City be able to realise its full potential.” Cr Dwyer said.

The Union supports any development of infrastructure that is integrated into the existing transport network, and creates jobs.

Read the full media release from the City of Parramatta here.

Independent NSW bus drivers rally in Canberra for COVID-19 rescue package

Director of Near or Far Bus and Coach company, Rod Williams, has expressed concern for the thousands of workers employed by independent- often family-operated- bus and coach fleets suffering the impacts of COVID-19 following the clawback of JobKeeper.

Financial strains caused by depot rental payments, vehicle registration, insurances, fuel costs and toll fees to remain viable and provide employee job security have created a devastating knock-on effect on the mental health of drivers, mechanics, and other ancillary staff employed in the industry.

In response to this, a convoy of over 15 buses organised by Australian Family Owned Bus Companies made the trip to Parliament House on Monday 26th October. The group plead their case to Opposition Transport Minister Senator Don Farrell and other senators.

The situation for bus drivers working for smaller companies is something our members have thankfully avoided; operating a government contract is a guaranteed source of income for companies and their employees. Our thoughts go out to bus drivers, mechanics and other staff across the country who are left without a way of supporting themselves and their families in the current pandemic.

Read the full article here

ACTU Petition: You can’t heal the economy by hurting workers

Please see the following for a message from ACTU regarding their new petition:

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We have a simple demand for Scott Morrison.

No cuts to workers’ rights.

Will you sign this petition and help deliver this message loud and clear?

Employer lobbyists are on the march right now pressuring the Government to cut the basic rights of every worker.

We need to stop them, and ensure Scott Morrison decides to put workers first, not corporate profits.

It’s workers that have carried us through this pandemic – now we need to stand up and demand a fair go.

In unity,

Australian Unions Team

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.

Once again, stay safe.

In solidarity, 

David Babineau and Daniel Jaggers