Dear members,

This week the Division has had their hands full with a huge decision made to strike unless the NSW Government decided to take action on bus privatisation and public health order enforcement. The membership voted and it was decided that we needed to strike and we needed to strike now. The strike notice was issued earlier this week and the threat finally brought Transport Minister Constance to the table to negotiate.

It's absolutely unacceptable that we have even had to take this much action for a basic issue that should have been resolved at the very beginning of the pandemic. Bus drivers are putting their health on the line every single day for the public and should be treated with the respect and working conditions that they deserve. As members know, after months of arguing, we finally got employers to provide face masks for bus drivers if they requested them. Although this was a great win, we still had the war to come. And finally it came. Bus drivers were ready to strike and the NSW Government had no choice but to pay attention to some of the most essential workers during this crisis. The pandemic has shone a spotlight on people normally ignored- shelf stockers, delivery drivers, cleaners, bus drivers.

This week, the NSW Government came to the table and offered to provide written guarantees to ensure that there was one employer responsible for both ex-STA staff and new employees after privatisation. The RTBU has negotiated a new clause in the contracts for Regions 7, 8, & 9 that ensures there is only one employer for each region. This was a lesson from Region 6 where employees both old and new suffer for the exclusive benefit of company profits. TfNSW has committed in writing to policing this clause and set out the way they will enforce it. We have also provided TfNSW with legal advice about the Region 6 contract showing it hasn’t been policed and proof of how our members are being ripped off by the current TSA company structure. The truth is TSA should never have been allowed to run things the way they have because even without the new clause, there were still words that held the same meaning. We are pushing the Government to resolve this by bringing all employees under a single company as the contract says it should be.

The Government also committed to extensive community consultation on route changes and bus stop removal including for future operations in regions 7, 8 and 9. In regards to public health concerns, they agreed to review public transport health rules and campaign on the need for wearing masks to the public. 

After careful consideration, members yesterday voted to accept the offer and cancel the strike in favour of a sanctioned meeting on paid time where the Deputy Secretary of TfNSW will explain to employees over a live virtual meeting what the contents of the letter mean. This will take place on Monday and members will be given time to get off the road. Talk to your delegates for more details but remember, it’s been a massive week and they deserve some time to recover.

This action on bus privatisation will ensure that the community's serious concerns are addressed and not just swept under the rug. It also means that we can continue to constructively discuss our ongoing concerns with the plan. Private companies now also know that we won't be backing down when it comes to the working conditions we deserve.

A huge thank you goes out to all members involved in this process for their dedication, spirit and persistence. We could not have achieved anything without you and know that we continue to fight for your best interests and keep your safety as our top priority.

Media release: Bus union issues strike notice unless Berejiklian Government acts on public health concern

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) NSW has written to the Premier giving notice of a 48-hour work stoppage next week if the NSW Government continues to fail to enforce health and safety guidelines on public transport to keep commuters and transport workers safe.

RTBU Tram and Bus Division Secretary, David Babineau, said since the Covid-19 outbreak the Government has refused to meaningfully address bus drivers’ concerns over mask regulation, the enforcement of physical distancing on transport, and the privatisation of bus operations in Sydney under the cover of the pandemic.

Repeated meeting requests have been made since March from Mr Babineau, RTBU NSW Secretary Alex Claassens, and Unions NSW Secretary Mark Morey, to discuss safety on public transport. These requests have been ignored by the Premier and Transport Minister.

“Bus drivers have been fronting up to work every day during this pandemic, despite great personal risk to themselves and their families, to keep our state moving,” said Mr Babineau.

“The Government has consistently failed to provide proper regulations for public transport users. What regulations they have put in place, such as passenger limits, they have failed to enforce.

“We’re calling on the Berejiklian Government to put the needs and safety of the travelling public first. We need a clear protocol for enforcing safe travelling guidelines that includes compulsory mask wearing by passengers when there are more passengers than green dots on buses and trams, providing clarity around the enforcement of physical distancing on transport, and ditching privatisation plans until this crisis is over.”

The work stoppage will commence on Monday 24th August and affect bus operations in Regions 7, 8 and 9, covering North West Sydney, the North Shore, Northern Beaches and Eastern Suburbs.

Click here to read more on Tram and Bus Express.

In the media

In our huge week, we were all over the news. Our fight to stop bus privatisation and get proper COVID -19 safety measures by threatening to strike was all over radio, broadcast and print media. Some of our highlights included:

• SMH: Bus drivers threaten 48-hour strike over masks, social distancing
• Channel 9: Bus drivers threaten to strike over mask, social distancing concerns
• DT: Sydneysiders face disruptions to bus network as drivers threaten strike action over virus concerns
• Channel 10: Sydney bus drivers have voted to strike across swathes of Sydney suburbs over apparent lack of protection from #COVID19Aus
• Channel 9: NSW bus drivers are threatening COVID strike action, demanding the enforcement of masks and social distancing on buses
• SBS: Should masks be made compulsory for public transport users in NSW?
• 2GB radio: Sydney bus drivers ‘at wits’ end’ threaten 48-hour strike over mandatory masks

Click here to see all our media features on Tram and Bus Express.

Media Release: Bus drivers reach agreement on masks and greater accountability on privatisation, avoiding need for strike

The NSW Rail, Tram and Bus Union’s Bus and Tram Division Secretary David Babineau has announced bus drivers will not take strike action next week after the NSW Government undertook to meet its substantive demands outlined in a letter to the Premier on Monday.

“Bus drivers and their union, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, thank commuters and the wider community for their incredible support during this difficult week. You recognised that the NSW Government didn’t have our back on safety or privatisation of bus services and you stepped up in support,” Mr Babineau said today.

“Through our combined action, we forced the Government to the negotiating table and made them take our concerns seriously.

“On Sydney radio this morning, Premier Gladys Berejiklian herself admitted there had been an increase in mask wearing in some areas of up to 60% since we announced our action on Monday.

“The issue of mask wearing on public transport has been significantly elevated this week and the NSW Government has undertaken to review health advice and guidelines if community infection levels increase.

“Bus drivers have also gained a commitment from the NSW Government for more accountability in regions facing the threat of privatised bus services, with community consultation being promised in writing.

“I have no doubt these community consultations will show the depth of community anger and frustration at bus privatisation plans. The community know privatisation will inevitably mean cuts to services and short-cuts on the cleaning, fleet maintenance, and safety. It’s up to everyone to stand up for their local services.

“Bus drivers and their union will remain vigilant and we hope for a more constructive response from government to any future concerns so we can avoid reaching this point again,” he said.

Click here to read more on Tram and Bus Express.

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 again for your essential work during a time of crisis.

Once again, stay safe.

In solidarity, 

David Babineau and Daniel Jaggers