Bus drivers have notified Metro Tasmania they will commence protected industrial action tomorrow (10 October 2024) as part of their campaign for better pay and conditions.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) Tasmania Secretary Byron Cubit said bus drivers would ‘work to rule’ – meaning they would not perform extra work outside their Enterprise Agreement and established workplace policies and procedures.
“Drivers will continue to do the work they are paid for, and required to do,” Mr Cubit said.
“The fact is, however, that drivers often go ‘above and beyond’ to help Metro deliver its services and to ensure members of the public are not left stranded.
“We therefore expect that there will be some minor impact on services from these industrial actions.”
Mr Cubit said industrial actions would include:
“Working to Rule” (full compliance with policies and procedures);
A ban on meetings with Senior Operations Supervisors and other meetings in personal time;
A ban on various types of paperwork that drivers undertake; and
Distributing industrial campaign material and information to workers and to the general public.
The protected industrial action will remain in place indefinitely.
Mr Cubit said bus drivers would consider applying further industrial actions if suitable progress towards an agreement was not made, however the upcoming Point to Pinnacle event would not be affected.
“Bus drivers have not taken this decision lightly. The last thing they want to do is interrupt the services that Tasmanians rely on.
“Last year’s temporary pay rise for bus drivers slowed the exodus of workers, but did not deliver the workforce boost that Metro needs to reinstate hundreds of suspended services.
“The only way to restore Metro’s workforce is to lock in last year’s pay rise for drivers and build on it through a new EBAs that deliver fair pay, safer work conditions and better support for bus drivers.
“While we have made some progress in Enterprise Agreement negotiations, we still have a long way to go to get a proposal that will meet drivers’ expectations.”
ENDS
Contact: Byron Cubit 0400 783 022 / bcubit@rtbu.org.au