Tram and Bus Express: News and views from life in the bus & tram lanes
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Member Update: October 1, 2021
Dear Members,
On Tuesday, Pyrmont depot's protected industrial action culminated in two 2-hour stoppages as members urged Transdev to come to the bargaining table to fix a massive disparity in pay and conditions and equal career opportunity. The stoppages occurred from 7:00am-9:00am and 3:00pm-5:00pm.
Transdev's refusal to provide fair career progression as part of current enterprise agreement negotiations left us no choice but to strike, showing them that we have no plans to back down from our demands for fair bargaining.
As a result of members taking action down at the IWLR this week Transdev is coming back to the negotiating table next Wednesday 6 October. All other protected actions members have taken up until now will continue pending on the outcomes of this meeting.
Members should be proud what we’ve achieved by standing together on Tuesday and all throughout the entire protected action period.
As you all know, when one hurdle has been leapt, another follows. The COVID-19 pandemic is still a major health risk in our communities, but the roadmap to reopening remains the focal point of recent NSW Government health updates. Running parallel to the joys of reopening is the anxiety around worker safety as more and more restrictions are eased before further health and safety measures are implemented in the workplace by the government. We're continuing to work with community groups across NSW to ensure that the plan for reopening and recovery is fair and equitable, and simultaneously fighting to ensure that safe and secure jobs are delivered to the areas hit hardest by the pandemic.
As the third month of lockdown comes to a close, we know that it can be difficult to keep your heads up and your hearts strong. You've all been perseverant in your efforts to keep yourselves and the community safe, and we highly encourage you to seek support if you need it - in a loved on, in a mate, or in one of the services available to you.
It's common knowledge by now, but please keep it up and continue to wear a mask as required, social distance where possible, and, where you can, pay attention to exposure sites in case you may have attended any of them personally.
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.
Pyrmont Depot Protected Action: Stoppage on 28 September 2021 makes Transdev come back to the table!
On Tuesday, Pyrmont depot's protected industrial action ended with a bang. Two 2-hour stoppages occurred from 7:00am-9:00am and 3:00pm-5:00pm as members urged Transdev to engage properly in the bargaining process to fix two key issues - a massive disparity in pay and conditions, and equal career opportunity.
We were left with no choice but to strike on Tuesday as Transdev had, up to then, refused to address these issues.
After members took action down at the IWLR, we can successfully report that, in response to the strike, Transdev is coming back to the negotiating table next Wednesday 6 October.
All other protected actions members have taken up until now will continue pending on the outcomes of this meeting.
A massive thank you and a round of applause to members who participated in the strike to fight for better, well-deserved working conditions!
You can view more snaps from the day and some footage of the action on the Tram and Bus website.
Media Release: Trams delayed today as workers at “Forgotten Depot” strike for equality
28 September 2021
Commuters can expect delays on the Inner West Light Rail today as workers at the Pyrmont depot resort to industrial action to fix a massive disparity in pay and conditions between Sydney’s two light rail depots.
Almost 60 light rail staff will stop work between 7-9am and 3-5pm today. The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) NSW says light rail operator Transdev has left workers with no choice but to strike, apologising to the public for the disruption this will cause.
“We apologise to everyone who will be impacted by workers taking industrial action today. This is the last thing we want to do,” says Daniel Jaggers, President of RTBU NSW Tram and Bus Division.
“Workers have actually been taking industrial action for weeks but made sure services could still run. They’ve put bans on uniforms, enforcing the rules about how management can contact them, and even stopped using Transdev’s service update app.
“Unfortunately, management still won’t listen, so we only have one option left.
“Transdev operates both Sydney’s light rail depots but its pays workers at one more than the other for doing the exact same job. It gives drivers at one depot better career prospects and opportunities for faster advancement.
“It’s outrageous that a big company like Transdev is trying to get away with this kind of double-dealing. Workers at Pyrmont call it ‘The Forgotten Depot’, and they refuse to be forgotten any longer.
The discrepancy in pay and conditions for workers at the Pyrmont depot includes:
Drivers are paid significantly less
It takes drivers five years to attain the highest grade instead of three
Staff who do safety-critical work and undergo rigorous medical assessment are paid less than staff in non-critical roles who are not responsible for passenger safety
“Workers have tried everything to make Transdev management play fair without impacting the public. Our fight is not with the public,” says Mr Jaggers.
“All we ask is that Transdev gives all its light rail employees equal pay for equal work, and a fair go at their career. It’s not a lot to ask.”
Region 6 EA still a joke
So far the entire process for the Region 6 Enterprise Agreement has been ridiculous.
Important issues about the bargaining process have been left unanswered and we’re not interested in wasting time when it’s clear what the company is doing. They want to try and tick the boxes for Good Faith bargaining (they haven’t) while going straight to workers in the hope that they’ll get this insulting EA proposal voted up. While it remains an option to go to the Fair Work Commission, by the time we get any result we could just as easily have had a Protected Action ballot and be taking industrial action.
If the only thing this company understands is disruption, so that’s what they’ll get until they decide to stop playing games and actually listen to workers.
The Q & A notices they put out are full of spin, half-truths and outright lies. We’ll be putting together a union version of those questions next week so members can get an idea of how much crap TSA are talking.
STA Award variation approved
In the previous version of the Award, the second year pay increase was 1.5% because that was the Government Wages Policy at the time.
On Thursday, the Industrial Relations Commission approved an increase to 2.5% including any superannuation increase, which is in line with the new Wages Policy. This will carry across to new employers for the Northern region after privatisation and for STA employees on January 1st 2022.
While this was a time consuming process behind the scenes with the union fighting for what we saw as common sense, it’s good to have gotten it done before anyone goes across to the private sector. This change has been made for the Salaried Award as well.
COVID Update
1 October 2021
While case numbers remain high, there has been a steady downward trend over the two weeks. This reprieve looks as though it will be short lived with health advisers and the Government warning that once the state reopens at 70% and 80% vaccination targets, numbers will dramatically rise. We have heard warnings that the health system could be overwhelmed in the coming weeks, and the Government has been busy enrolling recently retired medical professionals to assist.
Despite the unpredictable health situation, things are on track for some restrictions to lift with the predicted date now being 11 October 2021. This will be the first easing of restrictions for members in the Greater Sydney Area since June and will surely be widely welcomed by many.
Rapid antigen testing has been rolled out at two new bus sites in Sydney:
- Kingsgrove Bus Depot
- Burwood Bus Depot
In a meeting with Transport for NSW yesterday, we were advised that the practice adopted by Transport operators to give preference for shifts to members not in the LGAs of concern has been directed to stop. From here on out if you meet the vaccination requirement to leave your LGA, you should be rostered as normal.
It remains the position of the RTBU that mandatory vaccination is not the way to go. People should have a choice and that choice should be genuine. Instead we’ve seen policy by postcode and people who are not vaccinated are looking at potential limitations on what freedoms they have depending on what the government decides. The politics has to come out of the health response.
Base timetables will return on 10 October 2021. Sydney Trains stations are to be reopened and station staff are set to head back to work at their stations.
We are continuing to agitate for rapid antigen testing across every site in NSW. We’ve said it before and we’ll keep saying it, the only way to ensure ongoing protection from COVID is a combination of vaccination and rapid antigen testing. Particularly when NSW opens back up over the coming months, we need more than ever to ensure that COVID doesn’t ravage the transport sector.
As always, stay safe.
‘Fancy bus stop’: $100m transport interchange in Sydney’s north derided
Ryde Council is irate that two designs it proposed for the interchange and precinct upgrade have been discarded by Transport for NSW, labelling the state government’s plans for a $100 million transport interchange at fast-growing Macquarie Park as little more than a fancy bus stop, and a missed opportunity to rejuvenate an area dominated by cars.
Ryde mayor Jerome Laxale said the transport agency’s plans were “completely inadequate” for an area set to become the country’s fourth-largest CBD by the end of the decade.
“This is no bus interchange – it is just a fancy bus stop,” he said. “[It] is the only major CBD that does not have a public plaza that provides pedestrian access to key public transport routes and a place for the community.”.
Vaccination Reminder
Bus drivers, due to their working environment, are at particular risk. Members are encouraged to sign up for the appropriate vaccination for your circumstances ASAP. The sooner you’re protected, the sooner your family is. Members who for health reasons are eligible for priority vaccination are encouraged to make an appointment. Vaccinated employees with health risks are considered safe to attend work. Employees not yet vaccinated who have health issues should approach their staff supervisors or line managers to discuss what options are available.
If the Pfizer vaccine is suitable for you, the STA have designated appointments available for you to get vaccinated. Contact your local manager for more information.
Please stay safe and stay vigilant. Bring any issues or concerns to the attention of your local delegate, including any hot spots where you see consistent non-compliance of mask wearing by passengers on buses or at bus stops.
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.
Thanks for your essential work during a time of crisis.
In solidarity,
David Babineau and Daniel Jaggers
