Tram and Bus Express: News and views from life in the bus & tram lanes
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Member Update: 11 December 2020
Dear members,
Following the COVID-positive individual recorded travelling on Sydney's Light Rail last week, there have thankfully been no new cases recorded since.
The holidays are fast approaching, and with borders being opened up between most states we hope that the opportunity to be with loved ones across the nation will serve as a heartwarming reprieve from what has undoubtedly been one of the most difficult years we have all experienced.
But 2020 isn't over yet, and we've still got things to get done!
Divisional Officials met with NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance last week. Important discussions went underway to address some of the most pressing issues that we want at the top of the Minister's list. Matters include unending passes for STA staff, increasing the pay rise for drivers following state plans to privatise bus services, backdating the pay rise for any agreement reached to 1st January 2021, and getting urgent approval for STA to bargain for the Salaried and Bus Op Awards.
We'd like to give a special thanks to Wagecover, who set up a coffee cart at the Ryde depot this week to thank the workers who have been at the coal face throughout the global pandemic. We hope the coffee made the morning just that little bit sweeter.
In the news, now. Transport for NSW has announced that the 891, 893 and 898 express bus services from Central Station to UNSW's Kensington Campus will be withdrawn after the end of the semester on 21 December. In a move that has enraged the university's students and staff, Transport for NSW have tried to compromise by encouraging the use of the Randwick/Kingsford Light Rail route. The viability of this continues to be heavily disputed by the UNSW Student Representative Council.
And in an action to spread Christmas spirit and give back to the community, selected buses servicing the Port Macquarie-Hastings community are being decorated as part of a fundraising drive for local charity Liberty Domestic & Family Violence Specialist Services Inc. The Busways Wauchope depot will also be participating in the fundraiser.
To continue the theme of generosity, we are appealilng to members to please give generously to the donation account we have set up for Roy Stanton, 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. All funds from the account will go towards Roy's legal defence. View the details on where to donate here.
We hope that you continue to stay safe and well.
Divisional Officials meet with NSW Transport Minister
Divisional Officials met with NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance last week. Important discussions were had to address some of the most pressing issues that the Union feels should be at the top of the Minister's list.
These included:
- Giving unending employee passes for STA staff. Failing that, retaining employee passes at concession rates instead of losing them entirely after two years is a fall back position.
- Increasing the pay rise for drivers following state plans to privatise bus services. This is in spite of the wage freeze for public sector employees. The Union has made the case for STA staff to receive the full 2.5% that is normally afforded them, we’ll see what reasons the Minister uses to say ‘No’.
- Backdating the pay rise for any agreement reached to 1st January 2021. This looks quite promising, as both the Minister and Transport for NSW seem to be on board. Employees shouldn’t suffer because the government wanted to catch us in their wage freeze and delayed negotiations (they still haven’t started).
- Getting approval for STA to bargain for the Salaried and Bus Op Awards ASAP. Meetings with STA and TfNSW has given us some good news on some things and the work to include our entitlements where they fall outside of the award continues, but it's important to note that we can’t officially bargain until the government gives them permission.
There’s definitely been progress with the Award process, but we’ll wait until we have things on paper before calling it a win. Members in STA should be thinking about how much they want to fight for a pay rise as this is looking to be an issue that comes to a boil early next year.
Special Leave Rollback
TfNSW have begun rolling back the Special Leave entitlement, but STA have now put their own spin on it. While TfNSW had originally said, as reported to STA members in an RTBU bulletin, that Special Leave remained at the discretion of the employee, that’s now being backtracked on. We’ve sought clarification from TfNSW and STA about exactly what this means for members and under what circumstances Special Leave can be used. A comprehensive Tram & Bus Division bulletin is due out early next week and we’ll update members on what response we get.
Coffee Cart at Ryde Depot to Thank Coal Face Workers
On Wednesday 9 December, those at the Ryde depot were treated to a well-deserved cuppa from 5:00am until 8:00am.
A coffee cart was set up by Wagecover at the depot as a thank you to the workers who have been at the coal face throughout the global pandemic.
We’d like to give a special thank you to Wagecover for putting this on and making the morning at the depot cosier with the coffee.
UNSW students to catch light rail as direct bus services cut
On Monday, Transport for NSW announced that the express bus routes from Central Station to UNSW Kensington Campus - the 891, 893 and 898 - will be withdrawn at the end of the trimester on 21 December. The UNSW Student Representative Council has voiced their strong opposition to the decision, arguing that the irresponsible move will “...push thousands of UNSW students onto crowded light rail and public bus services."
Refuting this, A Transport for NSW spokesman said that the Light Rail's maximum capacity of 6,750 customers per hour from the CBD to Randwick/Kingsford between 7am and 7pm (weekdays) "...provides ample capacity for the 1500-2000 customers which on average catch the 891 bus each hour from Central to UNSW between seven to 11am pre-COVID.”
Decorated buses to raise funds for Liberty Domestic & Family Violence Specialist Services Inc.
A selection of local buses servicing the Port Macquarie-Hastings community have been decked out with vibrant Christmas decorations of all kinds to spread holiday cheer amongst commuters. The decorations go towards raising funds for local charity Liberty Domestic & Family Violence Specialist Services Inc. Busways Wauchope depot will also be raising funds for the same charity.
Passengers are being encouraged to support the festive fundraising 'drive', with Busways promising to match donations with a $5,000 donation spread across all the charities.
"We'd love to top funds raised in previous years after what has been a challenging year for many to say the least...Our Christmas buses get behind a great cause and create a good feeling for everyone. We encourage the community to enjoy and donate." says Busways NSW North Coast service delivery manager, Juliana Meta.
The initiative is spread across Busways' 18 depots from Yamba on the NSW north coast to Penrith in Western Sydney and Lonsdale in South Australia.
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.
Once again, stay safe.
In solidarity,
David Babineau and Daniel Jaggers
