Dear members,

Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful holiday period and spent some quality time with loved ones. To those that were working through the break, thank you for your hard work and dedication. We truly appreciate all of your efforts.

2020 was a whirlwind of a year. It has undoubtedly made us much stronger and ready to face what comes our way in 2021. Nothing is more important to us than our members' rights and working conditions.

Privatisation of our buses is still at the top of the government agenda and we're keeping the ball rolling doing all we can and more to save our remaining government-run bus depots.

We've been out on the ground making noise and thriving off support from members and the public. The NSW Premier and NSW Government knows very well that we won't back down and allow them to continue with a plan that is detrimental to real people across the board. We must keep up the momentum throughout the year to prevent delays, route cuts, closed stops and poor working conditions for drivers and staff that will be brought on by privatisation.

The RTBU is also launching a 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. 

Over the holiday period, face masks became compulsory in many public spaces. For all your burning questions, the RTBU has put together a Q&A which you can refer to for information. Find the answers you need on the RTBU Express website here.

It's already looking like a busy year. We're looking forward to taking on all challenges with fervor and with members by our side.

With this, we would also like to take this chance to ask you to talk to your colleagues and encourage them to join the union if they are not a member yet. It takes many to stand up for the few and we all deserve the best working conditions possible.

We hope that you continue to stay safe and well.

Mask Update and Q&A

On January 2nd, the NSW Government announced that people using public transport in the Greater Sydney Area, including staff, must wear masks. Because this measure is being put in place without adequate preparation, many of the questions members will have are still being worked through.

Here are some of the things we do know.

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.

Sign the petition, spread the word.

Watch an explainer video here.

Ryde Mayor calls for 11th-hour halt on planned bus changes

Ryde mayor Jerome Laxale has penned a letter to NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance calling on him to “immediately stop” the Region 7 bus changes scheduled to begin from January 24.

An excerpt of the letter reads: “Many residents who live in the Ryde LGA already must contend with bus service which are very infrequent and do not go close to their homes. The proposed changes will exacerbate these issues.”

Parramatta councillor Donna Davis echoed Mayor Laxale's sentiments, stating that thousands of residents in Parramatta LGA were also impacted by the changes, particularly students, the elderly and those living with a disability.

Read the full article in The Daily Telegraph. Please note that this article is behind a paywall.

Calls for Parramatta Light Rail stops to be named after accomplished women

Transport for NSW released the names it has proposed for 16 light rail stops in December 2020, including Benaud at North Parramatta to honour the cricket legend and commentator who grew up in the area, and Indigenous names like Garung near the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. 

Parramatta councillor Donna Davis applauded the use of Aboriginal names, but was disappointed and frustrated at the "[lack] of imagination" for stops planned to be called Robin Thomas, Fennell Street and Church Street Mall. Instead, Cr Davis wants to see more female representation reflected in stop names, such as Fennell Street stop instead honouring the Parramatta Female Factory, given its proximity to the landmark. Other suggestions included Elizabeth Raine or Anne Gordon, who were managers and matrons of the factory respectively; Mary Shields, who was also incarcerated there and is author Thomas Keneally’s great grandmother; and more.

Read the full article on The Daily Telegraph. Please note that this article is behind a paywall.

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