No Sunshine Coast Sunbus bus services will operate on 31 Dec, 1 Jan

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1293160652

No Sunshine Coast bus services - NYE

No Sunshine Coast Sunbus bus services will operate on Friday 31 December, Saturday 1 January and Tuesday 4 January due to ongoing industrial action.

No replacement bus services will be available.

Services are expected to operate as scheduled on Sunday 2 January, Monday 3 January, and resume in full from Wednesday 5 January.

Passengers are encouraged to plan ahead and make alternative travel arrangements – consider car pooling, walking and/or cycling.

Hinterland Connect, Maleny-Landsborough-Beerwah, railbus route 649, Council Cabs and FlexiLink services are not affected and will run as scheduled. Passengers for these services are reminded that any connecting Sunbus services will not operate.

Please note: Event shuttle buses will transport passengers to and from the Mooloolaba New Year's Eve event from Kawana Shoppingworld and University of Sunshine Coast park 'n' rides. These shuttles will operate between 3.30pm and 2am and they will pick up and drop off at the carpark on Brisbane Road, Mooloolaba (near the event).
Affected Services

   * Route 600
   * Route 601 (Sunbus)
   * Route 603 (Sunbus)
   * Route 605 (Sunbus)
   * Route 615
   * Route 607 (Sunbus)
   * Route 636
   * Route 609
   * Route 610
   * Route 616
   * Route 617
   * Route 618
   * Route 619
   * Route 620
   * Route 626
   * Route 627
   * Route 628
   * Route 629
   * Route 630
   * Route 631
   * Route 632
   * Route 639
   * Route 613
   * Route 622
   * Route 602 (Sunbus)
   * Route 614
   * Route 612

=================

If BT was out as often as the Sunbus drivers, the Government would no doubt engineer some sort of industrial conference with a view to resolution ...  perhaps the Christmas parties have taken over.  The continuing troubles  no doubt have significant impacts on those folks dependent on the buses, and the drivers themselves in terms of income.  I am just amazed the Government seems disinterested ...

[mufreight]

Seems obvious that the Minister for intrangisence and Transport, Queensland Transport, Translink ant the SunBus management collectively DGAD otherwise the outstanding matters would have long since been resolved, who said that we have a LABOR Government concerned with the interests of the workers and the people of this State?

[ozbob]

For what it is worth, I have sent a tweet to the Premier ...

Twitter

Robert_Dow
 
@TheQldPremier Can a compulsory conference be called please? --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5140.0 enough surely?

[WTN]

This is looking uglier by the minute, sure to put a dent in a number of holiday plans. I wonder if it's possible to get replacement services for a few trunk routes?

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

26th December 2010

Sunshine Coast public transport users whacked

Greetings,

We believe it is time the Queensland Government stood up and showed a lead in getting some sort of resolution with the ongoing industrial issues with Sunbus.

Frankly, we don't care who is right, drivers, TAG, or the unions.  What matters is the now serious disadvantage being inflicted on the public transport commuters of the Sunshine Coast.

If a major operator in Brisbane had these problems there is little doubt the State Government would be moving heaven and earth to get to a mediated resolution.  The Sunshine Coast deserves the same support in our opinion.

--> http://www.sunbus.com.au/Strike%204%20IR%20update_cbt_241210V2.pdf

Best wishes,
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Anyone out there care? 

:bi

[ozbob]

Media Release 28 December 2010

SEQ:  Extra Queensland Rail train services for New Year very welcome!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has welcomed the additional rail services for New Years eve and during the early hours of 2011 (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"All lines have rail extra services running throughout the evening of the 31st December through to the morning of the 1st January 2011."

"This will ease overloading on Nightlink bus services, and other additional ferry and bus services (2,3).  A problem remains for local Sunshine Coast revellers as planned industrial action which will affect Sunbus services is going to leave around 30,000 revellers stranded (4).  We call on the Queensland Government to intervene and lead mediation with a view to cancelling the planned industrial action (5)."

"Normal ticketing is required for the public transport services in south-east Queensland for New Years Eve and News Year Day except for some services on the Sunshine Coast (6).  Contrast that to Melbourne, where New Year's Eve travel is free from 6pm until the first normal scheduled service on New Year's Day (7)."


References:

1.  http://www.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1291695798

2   http://www.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1289957379

3.  http://www.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/festive-season-services

4.  http://www.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1293160652

5.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5140.0

6.  http://www.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/129038718

7.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5112.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

New Year bus debacle

New Year bus debacle

Owen Jacques | 28th December 2010

A HARD-nosed fight between Coast bus company, Sunbus, and its drivers will leave thousands of people stranded on New Year's Eve, even with last-minute measures in place to ease the pain.

TransLink will today unveil plans to charter 25 full-size buses that will ferry revellers between Mooloolaba Esplanade and either Kawana Shoppingworld or the University of the Sunshine Coast campus.

But it won't help most of the 33,000 people who would normally catch a bus to the Coast's New Year celebrations.

The crisis has been created by a drivers' strike which will force the cancellation of all Sunbus services on New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and January 4. The spat is being driven by both sides.

The Transport Workers Union believes a new pay agreement will disadvantage its workers, cutting their pay and conditions.

Sunbus owners, the Transport Australia Group, say the agreement has been approved by Fair Work Australia which ensures it must be "better off overall" for workers.

Both sides blame the other for the strike action. The union said it had no other option while the company said the strike meant little because proper face-to-face negotiations would not begin until mid January.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a driver has told the Sunshine Coast Daily that Sunbus offered a one-cent per hour pay cut which would remain until mid-2013.

It follows, they said, a freeze on wage increases since July 2009, despite the current agreement concluding earlier this year.

Sunbus only provided them with a new agreement on December 21 and although there were plans to include potentially worthwhile penalty rates for overtime and early or late starts – this carrot would be brought in during the next five years.

Sunbus spokeswoman Cherie Beaumont-Tyson said drivers "won't be paid less", and if they were, Fair Work Australia would not have given the agreement the tick (of approval).

However, she could not say what the current hourly rate was for drivers, nor what they would be paid if they accepted the agreement.

"But (the strike action) is horrendous – we're horrified.

"How do we negotiate when we don't know what we are discussing?"

In a statement, general manager Megan Harkin said Sunbus carried 33,000 passengers on New Year's Eve 2009.

"Leaving this number of revellers without a bus service is a clear indication of the callous disregard the TWU has for the public," she said.

Union spokesman Michael Wong was colourful when attacking the Sunbus owners, calling their offered agreement "immoral".

"We still have support from the majority of the public," Mr Wong said.

"Drivers voted when to strike, they are sick of being mistreated by the company."

Both sides have also accused the other of waging a "misinformation campaign" in the media.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

28th December 2010

Greetings,

Come on Queensland Government, stand up for the community!

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

=============================

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

New Year bus debacle

Quote
New Year bus debacle

Owen Jacques | 28th December 2010

A HARD-nosed fight between Coast bus company, Sunbus, and its drivers will leave thousands of people stranded on New Year's Eve, even with last-minute measures in place to ease the pain.

TransLink will today unveil plans to charter 25 full-size buses that will ferry revellers between Mooloolaba Esplanade and either Kawana Shoppingworld or the University of the Sunshine Coast campus.

But it won't help most of the 33,000 people who would normally catch a bus to the Coast's New Year celebrations.

The crisis has been created by a drivers' strike which will force the cancellation of all Sunbus services on New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and January 4. The spat is being driven by both sides.

The Transport Workers Union believes a new pay agreement will disadvantage its workers, cutting their pay and conditions.

Sunbus owners, the Transport Australia Group, say the agreement has been approved by Fair Work Australia which ensures it must be "better off overall" for workers.

Both sides blame the other for the strike action. The union said it had no other option while the company said the strike meant little because proper face-to-face negotiations would not begin until mid January.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a driver has told the Sunshine Coast Daily that Sunbus offered a one-cent per hour pay cut which would remain until mid-2013.

It follows, they said, a freeze on wage increases since July 2009, despite the current agreement concluding earlier this year.

Sunbus only provided them with a new agreement on December 21 and although there were plans to include potentially worthwhile penalty rates for overtime and early or late starts – this carrot would be brought in during the next five years.

Sunbus spokeswoman Cherie Beaumont-Tyson said drivers "won't be paid less", and if they were, Fair Work Australia would not have given the agreement the tick (of approval).

However, she could not say what the current hourly rate was for drivers, nor what they would be paid if they accepted the agreement.

"But (the strike action) is horrendous – we're horrified.

"How do we negotiate when we don't know what we are discussing?"

In a statement, general manager Megan Harkin said Sunbus carried 33,000 passengers on New Year's Eve 2009.

"Leaving this number of revellers without a bus service is a clear indication of the callous disregard the TWU has for the public," she said.

Union spokesman Michael Wong was colourful when attacking the Sunbus owners, calling their offered agreement "immoral".

"We still have support from the majority of the public," Mr Wong said.

"Drivers voted when to strike, they are sick of being mistreated by the company."

Both sides have also accused the other of waging a "misinformation campaign" in the media.

[Otto]

I really do disagree with the timing of this action on New Years Eve and New Years Day.. This action will just target the casual bus user who in effect are the users we want to see catching buses more often.. This stratagy by the Union is just wrong...

My opinion only.. ( Otto... member of the RTBU )

[somebody]

I really do disagree with the timing of this action on New Years Eve and New Years Day.. This action will just target the casual bus user who in effect are the users we want to see catching buses more often.. This stratagy by the Union is just wrong...

My opinion only.. ( Otto... member of the RTBU )

Great point!

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

Strike jeopardises New Year's Eve

Strike jeopardises New Year's Eve

Owen Jacques | 29th December 2010

A PLANNED bus driver strike on New Year's Eve is jeopardising Sunshine Coast council's planned celebrations in Mooloolaba.

Although TransLink and Sunbus owners Transit Australia Group are desperately fighting for a solution, Mayor Bob Abbot has flagged that "tough questions" will need to be asked if tens of thousands risk being stranded.

"We have to seriously think about the safety issues of having a lot of people out and not able to get home," Cr Abbot said today.

"(The strike) is not attacking the company, it is attacking people who want to celebrate New Year's Eve.

"People will be trying to get cabs and arguments happen at cab ranks.

"But hopefully it can be resolved."

The council has told both Sunbus, the state-owned TransLink and even the Transport Workers Union to find a solution but it is so far unclear if anything will change before Friday night.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

30th December 2010

Greetings,

We believe it is time the Queensland Government stood up and showed a lead in getting some sort of resolution with the ongoing industrial issues with Sunbus.

Frankly, we don't care who is right, drivers, TAG, or the unions.  What matters is the now serious disadvantage being inflicted on the public transport commuters of the Sunshine Coast.

If a major operator in Brisbane had these problems there is little doubt the State Government would be moving heaven and earth to get to a mediated resolution.  The Sunshine Coast deserves the same support in our our opinion.

--> http://www.sunbus.com.au/Strike%204%20IR%20update_cbt_241210V2.pdf

Best wishes,
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[STB]

Here's a rebuttal from the Drivers to TAG.  It's quite vivid and seems that they are no closer to resoultion.  At least it gives an insight into what's going on up there on the Sunshine Coast.

Urgent Announcement – Sunbus | Tag


Please read carefully:

This is a rebuttal to the "Urgent Sunbus Announcement" made by TAG!...about the ...

TWU stike action on ...

Friday 31 December: Saturday 1 January and Tuesday 4 January.

TAG: The Transport Workers Union industrial relations strategy defies logic and is based on a clear intent to disrupt, rather than to achieve a timely outcome for members.

DRIVERS: The very first paragraph in this announcement defies logic in it's own right, lets take a good look at this statement.

Firstly it's not the TWU's strategy nor is it the TWU that is taking this action, for your information Ms Harkin it's the drivers who are setting the strategy and taking the action, and their doing it because they are fed up with the lies this company tells and with being treated like slaves, that's why they're taking and continuing this action!!!!!

So why don't you get out of your luxury office chair and walk downstairs and ask them for yourself instead of spreading gossip and rumours, in your blatant attempt to divide the employees at the Marcoola and Caloundra Depots. Because it won't work, you're only making us stronger and even more determined to get a fair and Agreement for all of the drivers.

TAG: The public are the real victims of this ongoing saga. They have been sold confusing and contradictory messages by the TWU.

DRIVERS: You talk about 'contradictory messages', and TAG would know what a 'contradictory message' is, after all TAG are the masters of contradiction. How about telling the truth for a change, for instance 'THE DRIVERS AT SUNBUS ARE AMONG THE BEST PAID DRIVERS IN AUSTRALIA'... what Australia do you live in! We're among the 'lowest paid', not the best paid, would you like me to include what drivers in other area's of Australia are paid, because you know as well as every single driver at Sunbus knows, that we are 'NOT AMONG THE BEST PAID DRIVERS IN AUSTRALIA', I for one don't know how you sleep at night when you tell so many lies!

TAG: Meetings between the TWU and TAG have now been scheduled for early January to progress negotiations. The Union and drivers have been in possession of TAG's offer for sometime yet have failed to respond formally in writing to date.

DRIVERS: This is another example of you're lies, TAG didn't even follow protocol, in that TAG didn't even have the decency to present their so called 'offer' to the negotiating committee, instead you totally ignored them and gave the offer directly to all the employees at Sunbus, you did this before seeking input from the duly elected representatives of those employees.

As for the meeting between TAG and the TWU (you forgot to include the employees Representatives, didn't you?), that was only announced a few days ago.

And your assertion that the TWU have been in possession of TAG's offer 'FOR SOMETIME' is nothing but ridicules, if you want to call six (6) days
'FOR SOMETIME' then go ahead, but you're not fooling anyone but yourself Ms Harkin.

And TAG now expects us to respond to a complicated legal document after having it for just six days, this defies belief.

The employees of Sunbus have been waiting patiently for the last eight ( 8 ), YES EIGHT THAT'S RIGHT ( 8 ) MONTHS! For TAG's response to their original 'Log of Claims', if anyone has had an offer 'FOR SOMETIME' ,
it's been TAG! So don't for one second accuse us of dragging the chain!

If you want documented evidence of this we'll gladly supply a copy of
the minutes (supplied by Sunbus, and our own handwritten minutes) which show exactly what TAG has been doing over the last EIGHT ( 8 ) MONTHS!!!!!!

Tag: Without an understanding of what is wrong with the offer, we cannot develop a counter offer.

DRIVERS: If you don't understand by now what's wrong with the offer then you never will!!!!!!

TAG: I feel confident from discussions I had with TWU Secretary, Peter Biagini, today that sense will prevail and the focus will turn to face negotiations and away from further unnecessary strike action.

DRIVERS:This statement doesn't deserve any comment! Talk about 'smoke and mirrors".

TAG: I do not understand what the Union hopes to achieve by striking in the meantime, Ms Harkin said.

DRIVERS: Let us again point out to you that it is not the TWU striking it is your drivers ' who are among the best paid in Australia' who are striking! And what they hope to achieve is a fair and decent wage for the difficult and often dangerous job that they do!

TAG: The conditions of the new Federal Award. The Award is law and the TWU played a crucial role in negotiating the conditions at a Federal level.

DRIVERS: Maybe you should get some legal advice before you makes claims like this one, the award conditions most definitely can be negotiated, the trouble here is that they can only be 'NEGOTIATED UP', and that's not exactly what TAG wants is it! And for your information no one is complaining (no one but TAG that is) about the conditions in the new modern award (PVTA).

TAG: Where we can be flexible is in the Enterprise Agreement we reach with our drivers. This is the dialogue we are yet to have, the lack of which has cost the drivers dearly in lost wages.

DRIVERS: Yes you could be flexible in regards to the Agreement content, the trouble is that you're not being flexible, from the start of negotiations TAG have told us what we will get, you have never bothered with what we want!

No we haven't had any real dialogue, it's hard to have a dialogue when only one side is listening!

As far as the drivers lost wages go, that is your doing and yours alone, it was TAG who stood down every employee and shut the gates, TAG are aware that over forty (40) drivers were prepared to work, yet TAG chose to close the depot citing safety and security concerns as their reason for doing this.

Will there be full services running on New Years Eve, or will there be only limited services running?

What about Christmas Day, did TAG inform the travelling public that there would only be limited services running, was a Christmas Day Timetable distributed to everyone? After all it would be a shame if some poor child was left waiting for a bus that would never come, all because TAG had neglected to inform everyone that there were only limited services running on the day!

TAG: Last year Sunbus carried 33,000 passengers on New Years Eve. Leaving this number of revelers without a bus service is a clear indication of the callous disregard the TWU has for the public.

DRIVERS: The drivers have canvassed the general public over the duration of this industrial action, and let us assure you that the vast majority of the travelling public are 100% behind the drivers in their quest for fair pay and conditions, especially when they are told how little we are paid!

TAG: Rather than making an application to Fair Work Australia (FWA) to extend their strike action they could have just as easily made application for FWA to intervene to resolve the impasse.

DRIVERS: This is simply a contradiction of your previous paragraphs, in which you have intimated that negotiations are ongoing, yet you now make the statement that we have reached an impasse, and that we should seek to rectify this impasse by applying to Fair Work for an Intervention Order, are we still negotiating or are we at an impasse?

I'm sure that we will in fact be seeking not only an Intervention Order, but we will also be filing a Bargaining Order as well, this will be in relation to TAG's breaches of the 'Good Faith Bargaining Rules'. But we all know that these processes take time, and they can't be done in a day Ms Harkin.

TAG: The Unions chose not to do that which goes to show what their real objectives are in this campaign.

Our drivers have lost $150,000 in wages, which they will never recoup, and over 50,000 passengers have been inconvenienced so far in the campaign.

DRIVERS: Don't for one minute insult the drivers any further by pretending that you or TAG give a hoot about them losing money, that would be more hypocrisy than any one of us could stand!

TAG: We can't be more clear that TAG wil not be forced to sign up the unsustainable log of claims the union currently has on the table.

DRIVERS: 'TAG will not be forced to sign up to the unsustainable Log of Claims the union currently has on the table': Just how out of touch are you? The Log of Claims is the drivers Log of Claims, not the unions!

And so in other words TAG expect the drivers to sign up to TAG's unsustainable offer, well listen carefully, because the drivers will not be forced to sign up either!!!! And that's a fact.

TAG: If the TWU had any legitimate intention of getting a resolution to the current impasse they would abandon their reckless industrial campaign and apply to Fair Work Australia to intervene " Ms Harkin said:

DRIVERS: "Repeat" ... this is simply a contradiction of your previous paragraphs, in which you have intimated that negotiations are ongoing, yet you now make the statement that we have reached an impasse, and that we should seek to rectify this impasse by applying to Fair Work for an Intervention Order, are we still negotiating or are we at an impasse? I'm sure that we will in fact be seeking not only an Intervention Order, but we will also be filing a Bargaining Order as well, this will be in relation to TAG's breaches of the 'Good Faith Bargaining Rules'. But we all know that these processes take time, and they can't be done in a day Ms Harkin.

TAG: Event shuttle buses will transport passengers to and from the Mooloolaba New Yerr's Eve event from Kawana Shoppingworld and University of Sunshine Coast.

Services are expected to operate as scheduled on Sunday 2 January, Monday 3 January, and resume in full from Wednesday 5 January. Passengers are advised to visit www.translink.com.au or call 13 12 30 for more information.

DRIVERS: Again the drivers ask: ... will these shuttle buses be a limited service or will all scheduled services be running? Best be careful answering this question!

http://getpaidyourworth.com/featured/urgent-announcement-sunbus-tag/

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

Let's get revellers home safe

Let's get revellers home safe

Owen Jacques | 30th December 2010

A DESPERATE race is being run to try and save the Sunshine Coast's largest New Year's Eve celebrations.

The owners of bus company, Sunbus, have worked through the night in an effort to create a plan so up to 40,000 people are not left stranded on Mooloolaba Esplanade.

Transit Australia Group boss Megan Harkin and her team are pushing to find enough drivers and buses to service the two most popular Sunshine Coast routes – Caloundra to Maroochydore (route 600) and Noosa to Maroochydore (route 620) on Friday night.

They will back up the council's shuttle buses to USC and Kawana Shoppingworld.

If enough drivers and vehicles can be found, buses will run half-hourly – two at a time – and be packed with revellers.

Crippled by a looming strike orchestrated by the Transport Workers Union (TWU), the Sunshine Coast Council was forced to consider whether it could allow the party to continue on the strip without a proper exit strategy.

Whatever the outcome, Ms Harkin will discuss the verdict at an internal meeting at 7am today, before then briefing the council's chief executive officer John Knaggs and TransLink.

Even if the company fails, it has pledged to give the council all the help it can in supplying a way home after the clock strikes 12.

Mayor Bob Abbot said it was inappropriate for the strike action to risk isolating a whole population.

"My position is that this is the wrong thing (for drivers) to do to a community," Cr Abbot said.

"(The strike) is not attacking the company, it's attacking people who want to celebrate New Year's Eve."

Head of Suncabs, John Lobwein, said the taxi fleet could handle no more than "10,000 jobs" or call-outs.

He said callers for a cab might hear a busy sound because "we can't take 2000 bookings at once".

Sunshine Coast Daily editor-in-chief Mark Furler contacted the TWU directly, urging it to put the safety of residents and visitors on the Coast's busiest night ahead of bus drivers' pay negotiations.

"The last thing we need to see is more drink-drivers on our roads,'' Mr Furler said.

But the TWU takes little responsibility for the potential chaos it will create.

Branch secretary John Biagini said union members would have a meeting tomorrow morning to see if they still wanted to push ahead.

If the union's members deprive revellers of a safe ride home, Mr Biagini said it would not be fair to blame the TWU.

"They need to blame Translink or Sunbus," he said.

The TWU's plan is to force Sunbus to stop services, in turn breaching its contract with Translink to provide transport.

"It's all about getting a resolution," Mr Biagini said.

[Fares_Fair]

As a Sunshine Coaster, it is indeed an unfortunate on-going dispute.
I heard a radio interview the other morning between a TAG representative and the Union rep.

I'm not sure that they could say that the public are behind them when you look at the inconvenience
that it will cause to those unable to travel by other means.
The union appears determined to create as much publicity as possible by using these lawful tactics.
It also shows how upset they must be if the negotiations have been continuing (more off then on) for 8 months as stated.

What the interview didn't make clear is what the wage offer actually is.
I have heard that there is a reduction of 1c per hour in their wage rate.
I have also heard a 4% increase but nothing more on whether it is per year, for the next 3 or 4 years or the term of the agreement.

I myself received a 3.5% pay increase this year (which was delayed for 8 months and contingent upon the company reaching set financial targets), and for which I am grateful.
A previous years 3% increase was also delayed for 8 months for the same reason.

For the public to ascertain the 'righteousness' or otherwise of this action we need to know the figures behind it.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

Sunbus swings into action for NYE

Sunbus swings into action for NYE

Owen Jacques | 30th December 2010

A DESPERATE Sunbus has pulled together a solution for New Year's Eve and the council has confirmed the event will go ahead.

LATEST:  NEW Year's Eve celebrations in Mooloolaba will go ahead despite the threat of strike action from the Transport Workers Union.

The industrial action, which pulled the wheels off planned Sunbus services, has been dodged by the bus company's owners finding other drivers and buses that will keep revellers from being stranded.

At a media launch this morning, Cr Chris Thompson said he was relieved that a solution was found.

Sunshine Coast council has had no control over the actions of the bus company, nor the union, but one of its flagship events was in serious jeopardy until owners Transit Australia Group relayed the good news.

Buses are expected to run from Caloundra to Maroochydore, stopping at Mooloolaba and Noosa to Mooloolaba -- the 600 and 620 services.

They will run on a half-hourly basis throughout the night and boost the council's shuttle bus services that will travel from Mooloolaba to University of Sunshine Coast, Kawana Shopping World and Cornmeal Parade in Maroochydore.

For more information on the bus timetables, head to the Sunbus website for regular updates.

The launch at Mooloolaba was celebrated by one of the New Year's Eve bands, Late for Woodstock, which played an improvised set as residents and holiday-makers filled the beach in the background.

RACE ON TO SAVE NEW YEAR'S EVE

A DESPERATE race is being run to try and save the Sunshine Coast's largest New Year's Eve celebrations.

The owners of bus company, Sunbus, have worked through the night in an effort to create a plan so up to 40,000 people are not left stranded on Mooloolaba Esplanade.

Transit Australia Group boss Megan Harkin and her team are pushing to find enough drivers and buses to service the two most popular Sunshine Coast routes – Caloundra to Maroochydore (route 600) and Noosa to Maroochydore (route 620) on Friday night.

They will back up the council's shuttle buses to USC and Kawana Shoppingworld.

If enough drivers and vehicles can be found, buses will run half-hourly – two at a time – and be packed with revellers.

Crippled by a looming strike orchestrated by the Transport Workers Union (TWU), the Sunshine Coast Council was forced to consider whether it could allow the party to continue on the strip without a proper exit strategy.

Whatever the outcome, Ms Harkin will discuss the verdict at an internal meeting at 7am today, before then briefing the council's chief executive officer John Knaggs and TransLink.

Even if the company fails, it has pledged to give the council all the help it can in supplying a way home after the clock strikes 12.

Mayor Bob Abbot said it was inappropriate for the strike action to risk isolating a whole population.

"My position is that this is the wrong thing (for drivers) to do to a community," Cr Abbot said.

"(The strike) is not attacking the company, it's attacking people who want to celebrate New Year's Eve."

Head of Suncabs, John Lobwein, said the taxi fleet could handle no more than "10,000 jobs" or call-outs.

He said callers for a cab might hear a busy sound because "we can't take 2000 bookings at once".

Sunshine Coast Daily editor-in-chief Mark Furler contacted the TWU directly, urging it to put the safety of residents and visitors on the Coast's busiest night ahead of bus drivers' pay negotiations.

"The last thing we need to see is more drink-drivers on our roads,'' Mr Furler said.

But the TWU takes little responsibility for the potential chaos it will create.

Branch secretary John Biagini said union members would have a meeting tomorrow morning to see if they still wanted to push ahead.

If the union's members deprive revellers of a safe ride home, Mr Biagini said it would not be fair to blame the TWU.

"They need to blame Translink or Sunbus," he said.

The TWU's plan is to force Sunbus to stop services, in turn breaching its contract with Translink to provide transport.

"It's all about getting a resolution," Mr Biagini said.

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

Ring-in drivers labelled scabs

Ring-in drivers labelled scabs

Owen Jacques | 31st December 2010

DRIVERS willing to operate buses for New Year's Eve passengers tonight, despite impending strike action, have been labelled as "scabs" and "worse than scum" for helping save Mooloolaba celebrations.

It follows the announcement that Sunbus owners have been able to secure enough drivers to run skeleton routes through the night and into tomorrow.

To keep an estimated 40,000 people from being stranded, services will now run half-hourly from 5.30pm, beginning at Caloundra and Noosa Heads interchanges and heading to Mooloolaba Esplanade.

After midnight, services will only operate outbound from Mooloolaba to Caloundra and Noosa and those services will run until 3am on New Year's Day.

Those will be backed up by a three-route shuttle bus, chartered by the council, running from Mooloolaba and heading to a choice of University of Sunshine Coast, Kawana Shoppingworld or Cornmeal Parade in Maroochydore.

These will start at 3.30pm and finish at 2am.

But while tens of thousands breathe a sigh of relief, members of the Transport Workers Union have unleashed abuse towards ring-in drivers.

"Those who want to be scabs, your decision, but you shouldn't get the benefits when they come that the rest of us have fought for. You 'company suck ups' are beyond a joke," one wrote on a TWU online forum.

"I will never talk to a driver that goes out there and drives, you're scum, lower then scum; I will give you nothing but s***, don't do it," said another.

The site also directs members to vote in the Sunshine Coast Daily online poll on whether the strike action is appropriate.

It coincided with the TWU lodging an "open letter" it said had the support of 178 members, all pledging anonymously to support the strike action.

TWU spokesman Michael Wong said drivers feared victimisation or sacking from Sunbus.

Megan Harkin, who heads Sunbus owner TAG, said, in relation to the taunts online, that the fill-in drivers, from both the Coast and beyond, were under "tremendous pressure".

"They are doing it out of goodwill because they don't want to see people stranded," she said.

She said passengers needed to plan their way home even as the transport crisis eased.

The 20 buses could handle huge numbers of people throughout the night, but would run at capacity, and people needed to be patient.

There would also be "sweeper" or extra buses sent to wherever they were most needed and all services would be patrolled by security.

Cr Chris Thompson, who represents Mooloolaba, helped launch the NYE celebrations at Loo with a View yesterday morning.

"It looks like there will be enough buses," he said, as a warm-up act Late for Woodstock played nearby.

"They're still going to be striking, but there will be a service for New Year's Eve."

Those looking for a quieter view of festivities often flock to the lookout at Point Cartwright, but the area has been trampled into mud as young people used it as a substitute for quality surf.

Nearby resident Quentin Brown visits the area daily and said it "looked like a piggery" at the moment.

"It's the worst I've ever seen it," he said.

"They're not too young, they're university age and they surf the hill when there is no other surf.

"They pour detergent on boards, and on themselves, and go for it.

"A lot of people go and watch festivities and fireworks from there."

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

Ring-in drivers crew buses

Ring-in drivers crew buses

Kieran Campbell | 1st January 2011

DRIVERS for transport company Sunbus went ahead with their plans for a New Year's Eve strike last night.
Brett Wortman

DRIVERS for transport company Sunbus went ahead with their plans for a New Year's Eve strike last night.

But buses, with fill-in drivers, still operated up and down the Sunshine Coast at the start of the busiest night of the year

A skeletal roster was set up to allow 20 buses to follow routes from Caloundra and Noosa Heads to Mooloolaba every 30 minutes.

The strike of Sunbus drivers started at 4.30am yesterday. It was planned to last 48 hours.

The drivers also intend to strike on Tuesday for a 24-hour period.

The strikes are part of protest action by the Transport Workers Union for higher pay and better conditions. Yesterday, the Daily reported that drivers willing to operate buses for New Year's Eve passengers, despite impending strike action, had been labelled as "scabs" and "worse than scum" for helping save Mooloolaba celebrations.

Members of the TWU unleashed abuse towards ring-in drivers.

"Those who want to be scabs, your decision, but you shouldn't get the benefits when they come that the rest of us have fought for. You 'company suck ups' are beyond a joke," one wrote on a TWU online forum.

"I will never talk to a driver that goes out there and drives, you're scum, lower then scum."

[mufreight]

A LABOR Transport Minister supporting the use of strikebreakers rather than resolving the basic problem in this case the underpayment when compared with other sections of the public transport industry of drivers by a company renowned for less than reasonable work practices.
Definately not a good look either politicaly or for the future of privately operated public transport on the Sunshine Coast.

[ozbob]

http://www.sunbus.com.au/NYE%20-%20A%20resounding%20success.pdf

" It is with great relief I can confirm the TWU have formally requested the
strike scheduled for Tuesday 4 January, be cancelled.

" Peter Biagini, TWU State Secretary has given me his commitment that there
will be no further strike action between now and the second week of January,
when face to face negotiations which will take place," Ms Harkin said.

All Sunbus services will return to normal from 4:30am Sunday 2 January,
when the current industrial action will end.

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

Planned bus strike cancelled

Planned bus strike cancelled

4th January 2011

PUBLIC buses will run as normal on the Sunshine Coast today after drivers decided to cancel a planned strike.

The general manager of Sunbus' parent company, Transit Australia Group, Megan Harkin said it was a "great relief" to learn that the Transport Workers Union had decided to cancel the industrial action.

"Peter Biagini, TWU state secretary, has given me his commitment that there will be no further strike action between now and the second week of January, when face-to-face negotiations will take place," Ms Harkin said.

Mr Biagini said today's planned strike was cancelled as a sign of good faith.

He said it was now up to TAG to show "how fair dinkum they are".

"Obviously, if the company doesn't put anything sensible forward then, well, the industrial action will continue," he said.

"Our blokes are just saying let's give them a chance."