Union agrees to 8-week pause as wage negotiations continue
Northern Beaches bus drivers have agreed to pause protected industrial action for eight weeks while wage bargaining continues.
Keolis Northern Beaches will give drivers a ‘modest’ pay increase linked to inflation in exchange for the strike suspension while negotiations continue, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW (RTBU) told PL.
This comes after the NSW Government announced it would give private operators a share of $200 million as long as it was used for bus drivers pay increases to address driver shortages and prevent industrial action.
RTBU NSW Tram and Bus Division President Peter Grech told PL that no final agreement had been reached.
“The NSW Government made clear its recently announced funding for driver wage increases will only be available where an agreement is reached, so there is now a clear opportunity for Keolis to resolve this dispute.
“Our members want an agreement that properly values the responsibility they carry and addresses the wage and retention problems affecting the Northern Beaches network.”
General manager of Keolis Northern Beaches Sune Nielsen welcomed the government’s funding and said: “Keolis is committed to doing its part by continuing to negotiate constructively and in good faith to achieve a fair outcome.
“We support our drivers receiving the benefit of that funding, and reaching agreement as quickly as possible remains the clearest path to unlocking that funding and ensuring those benefits flow to our people.”
According to the government, bus drivers are paid an average of $33 per hour. Of the latest recruits, nine in 10 bus drivers leave the industry within six months of commencing work. The government stated that bus services on the Northern Beaches were regularly let down by last-minute cancellations because many drivers could not afford to live and work in the area due to ‘rampant’ housing costs. As of the first week of July, the overall bus driver shortage was down to 168.
The RTBU commenced widespread industrial action on the Northern Beaches and lower North Shore on 18 June, with a two week-long switch-off of Opal readers by bus drivers out of uniform. Action continued the week of 6 July, with drivers refusing to operate any bus displaying a dashboard warning light. Following the State Government’s funding announcement on 10 July, the union took further industrial action on 17 July.
The RTBU’s Mr Grech said the union was ‘ready to negotiate constructively on a deal to deliver a genuine and permanent improvement to drivers’ pay and conditions.’
“If a fair deal is not struck within that (eight-week) period, our members retain the right to recommence industrial action.”
Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby has called on Keolis to take up the government’s offer. She welcomed the funding announcement, but noted, “It’s a bit rich.”
“The whole point of privatisation was supposed to be saving taxpayers money, with private companies delivering more for less,” Ms Scruby said.
“Instead, we’re now offering a private company that won a competitive tender further financial assistance, funded by taxpayers, just to deliver on the contract it signed up to.”
Ms Scruby added that ‘private operators also need to chip in,’ but is hopeful that the government funding ‘will help bring about a swifter resolution for drivers and for the passengers stuck waiting at cancelled stops.’
Independent Wakehurst MP Michael Regan also welcomed the announcement and said he has been advocating for the government to support lifting of bus driver wages.
“Keolis now needs to negotiate in good faith and contribute its fair share to deliver better pay and conditions,” he said.