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Sydney bus drivers begin indefinite work bans; authorities warn of delays and cancellations
About 2,000 Sydney bus drivers began indefinite work bans early on November 4, refusing to drive buses showing dashboard warning lights; from November 5 the bans expand to refusing to drive from depots any bus without a full fuel tank or fully charged battery. Transport for NSW has warned that some services could be delayed or cancelled where buses cannot meet the notified bans. The drivers, represented by the Rail Tram and Bus Union, work routes in the eastern suburbs, northern beaches, lower north shore and inner north-west, and have been negotiating a new pay deal with private operators Keolis, Transdev John Holland and Busways for nine months; the union is seeking a pay rise of about 22 per cent over three years. On the same day, the NSW government unveiled an extra 3,000 weekly bus services, to roll out between November 15 and 22. (Cover photo is a file photo of a Sydney bus.)
About 2,000 Sydney bus drivers began indefinite work bans early on Wednesday, November 4, refusing to drive buses showing warning lights on their dashboards. From Thursday, the bans will expand to refusing to drive from depots any bus that does not have a full fuel tank or fully charged batteries. Transport for NSW has warned that the indefinite actions could result in the delay or cancellation of some services where buses were unable to meet the requirements of the notified work bans, although buses operated by drivers involved in the action will continue operating. (Cover photo is a file photo of a Sydney bus.)
Nine months of talks without a deal; union seeks about 22% over three years
The drivers are represented by the Rail Tram and Bus Union and operate routes in Sydney's eastern suburbs, northern beaches, lower north shore and inner north-west. The union has been locked in a long-running dispute with private operators Keolis, Transdev John Holland and Busways over a new pay deal, with negotiations running for nine months. Drivers are seeking a pay rise of about 22 per cent over three years without changes to conditions, and the union describes the operators as attempting a casualisation of the workforce; the base wage for a Sydney driver is reported at about A$67,000 a year. Rail Tram and Bus Union divisional president Peter Grech said the industrial action was aimed at putting pressure on the bus companies, not inconveniencing passengers.
Government unveils 3,000 extra weekly services on the same day, from mid-November
On the same day the bans began, the NSW government announced an extra 3,000 weekly bus services, bringing the total of new services since the 2023 state election to 9,000, a 3 per cent rise. The extra services will be progressively rolled out between November 15 and 22, including new 24-hour operations on route 343 between Kingsford and Circular Quay and route 370 between Coogee and Glebe Point, along with the restoration of a direct link between Bronte and the CBD through route 378.
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