Sunbus, Surfside & Veolia Industrial issues

[HappyTrainGuy]

Looks like the Noosa Junction bus station is going to be getting a massive workout 

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

Sunbus drivers to stop work again

Sunbus drivers to stop work again

30th August 2011

SUNBUS drivers on the Sunshine Coast are set to stop work again this week as part of a protracted wage battle which appears no closer to resolution.

Coast drivers will join drivers from the Gold Coast and Redlands in stopping work for 24 hours from 4am Thursday.

A spokeswoman for Sunbus's parent company, Transit Australia Group, insisted yesterday the latest industrial action was separate to its long-running dispute with Sunshine Coast drivers.

But Transport Workers Union state secretary Peter Biagini said it was part of the campaign to get drivers around the state new and improved enterprise agreements.

He said Thursday's action was also aimed at pressuring Translink into increasing its funding to bus operators.

"Companies are saying there's not enough (funding) to pass on reasonable wage increases," Mr Biagini said.

"But I can assure you that if the enterprise agreements were finalised, we would not be having this campaign (against Translink)."

No Sunbus services will operate on Thursday, but Buslink's school services will be unaffected.

Sunbus drivers have stopped work on numerous occasions since the Christmas-New Year period.

But despite another strike looming, the TAG spokeswoman said the company was committed to achieving a resolution "in good faith".

"We see this (Thursday's action) as a separate matter and it won't affect our future negotiations," she said.

[mufreight]

Time for either Translink or the Minister to step in and pull the operating agreements for the TAG operations and get another operator.

[somebody]

Time for either Translink or the Minister to step in and pull the operating agreements for the TAG operations and get another operator.

Just as importantly, time for the anachronism that another operator couldn't fill in the struck area to be abolished.

[STB]

Just in from Twitter.

TheQldPremier Premier Anna Bligh
TWU & SunBus reach agreement on wages etc - terrific news for sunshine coast commuters!

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Breakthrough in bus dispute

Breakthrough in bus dispute
Marissa Calligeros
September 15, 2011 - 11:57AM

There has been a breakthrough in a long-running pay dispute between a Sunshine Coast bus operator and the Transport Workers Union, with the two parties reaching an in-principle agreement.

Sunbus parent company Transit Australia Group struck an in-principle agreement to end a lengthy fight over wages, including penalty rates and back pay, although bus drivers are yet to vote on the offer.

"While the final Enterprise Agreement will be officially voted in by the workforce next week during a short but necessary report back meeting, both the TWU and the drivers' bargaining committee has given the pay package the green light," the Transit Australia Group said in a statement.

The wage dispute, between the union's 190 members and the bus company, has spanned 18 months and prompted strike action on 13 occasions over the past nine months.

"This is a positive outcome for all concerned. The Sunshine Coast community will be spared further uncertainty and Sunbus can focus on delivering quality public transport services," the group said.

But, the fight over wages may not be completely over for another month.

Union state secretary Peter Biagini said the bus company had agreed to re-introduce penalty rates for drivers as part of a pay rise worth 4.5 per cent each year for the next three year.

However, he warned drivers wanting penalty rates to become effective immediately may vote against the offer next week.

"The penalty rates will be phased in over the next three year period ... but we think the majority of workers will still see it as a good win, because they'll have more over a three year period." Mr Biagini said.

He said drivers would also receive a one-off "back pay" payment if the workforce accepted the offer.

"Our negotiators tell me that there are good prospects of having an industrial agreement," he said.

"This is good result for the union, its members and the public."

Mr Biagini said he expected the new enterprise agreement would be drawn up in the next fortnight before it was put to a vote in coming weeks.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/breakthrough-in-bus-dispute-20110915-1kapd.html

[Fares_Fair]

Fingers crossed ...

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Bus drivers continue fight for pay

Bus drivers continue fight for pay
September 19, 2011 - 8:17PM

Southeast Queensland bus drivers have voted down a pay offer they say won't get them off the poverty line.

The majority of Surfside bus drivers rejected a 3.9 per cent pay increase today, Transport Workers Union spokesman Bob Giddens said.

He said the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement didn't contain fair overtime rates and flexibility for weekend rosters, and had employees working 12 hours a day, where union members wanted a 9.5-hour day.

"Hopefully, the company will come back with a pay deal that is more equitable," Mr Giddens said.

The typical life of a bus driver was six days' work every week, to take home less than $48,000 a year.

Many drivers were forced to urinate at the roadside because of the lack of facilities, and some had to pick up extra charter work to make ends meet - pushing them over the limit for safe driving hours, the union said.

"We still have in 2011 drivers who are unable to wash their hands at lunchtime before they eat their sandwiches," Mr Giddens said.

"We still have drivers working extremely long hours without thought to family life and work-life balance."

The union is highlighting bureaucrat numbers at TransLink, the government department in charge of the buses.

It says they have blown out from 40 to 450 since inception, while drivers cop abuse about the policies and fare rises it hands down.

"Drivers are not only heavy-vehicle experts, they are also in charge of controlling children, they have often got to be part psychologist, be able to defend themselves from road rage and keep calm when they are abused," Mr Giddens said.

"It's under-appreciated by the public, by the companies and definitely by the state government."

Drivers from another southeast Queensland bus company, Veolia, would finish their voting on their EBA tomorrow at 12pm.

Thousands of passengers in Redland Bay and Brisbane have been inconvenienced by Veolia strikes this year.

AAP

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/bus-drivers-continue-fight-for-pay-20110919-1khu5.html

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1316758205

Sunshine Coast Sunbus service interruption

No Sunshine Coast Sunbus bus services will operate from 10am to 2pm on Wednesday 28 September to allow Sunbus drivers to consider information in relation to their Enterprise Agreement.
Services not affected:

    School services run by BusLink will not be affected.
    Hinterland Connect, Maleny-Landsborough-Beerwah, 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.

Passengers are encouraged to plan ahead:

    Make alternative travel arrangements; consider car pooling, walking and/or cycling.
    Consider rescheduling appointments or non-essential travel where you are reliant on public transport.

Please check back regularly for the latest information, or call TransLink on 13 12 30 for updates before travelling.

Affected Services

    Route 600
    Route 601
    Route 603
    Route 605
    Route 615
    Route 607
    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
    Route 614
    Route 612

[Arnz]

After a long 12 months, the TAG/Sunbus industrial saga is FINALLY drawing to a close.

"Today Sunbus drivers endorsed in principle the remuneration package of a new three year Enterprise Agreement with parent company Transit Australia Group.
Sunbus passengers can now look forward to the return of a reliable bus service, with all parties looking forward to delivering a quality public transport to the Sunshine Coast community.

Both TAG and the Transport Workers Union have agreed not to disclose details of the offer. There are still some significant administrative processes to follow, and we anticipate at this stage that the new Enterprise Agreement will be formally ratified in the near future."

http://www.sunbus.com.au/documents/Wednesday28Sept-ServiceUpdate.pdf