Article: Sunshine Coast and Townsville bus drivers plan New Year's Eve strike

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Sunshine Coast and Townsville bus drivers plan New Year's Eve strike

Sunshine Coast and Townsville bus drivers plan New Year's Eve strike

    * From: AAP
    * December 23, 2010 2:04PM

NEW Year's Eve plans could be thrown into turmoil on the Sunshine Coast and in Townsville as bus drivers stage a 48-hour strike.

About 170 Sunbus drivers met on the Sunshine Coast today and agreed to strike in unison with more than 50 Townsville colleagues, who voted for the 48-hour walkout yesterday.

The Transport Workers Union claims Sunbus' parent company Transit Australia Group (TAG) is trying to rob workers of pay and conditions.

TWU secretary Peter Biagini accused TAG of presenting work contracts that were incomplete, and would deliver less pay and poorer conditions for drivers.

"Our negotiators and legal officers are tearing their hair out at TAG's incompetence and pig-headedness," he said in a statement.

"They have been given documents in which 'XX' has been placed where the pay rates should be. This is beyond a joke."

A union spokesman later said Sunbus had enough non-union staff to run a reduced time table if they chose to do so, but that was unlikely on the Sunshine Coast, where union membership was much higher.

He said Townsville drivers would strike for 48 hours from noon (AEST) on December 31, and Sunshine Coast drivers from 4.15am that day.

Comment was being sought from TAG.