Article: Union fears $40m bus funding cut

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Union fears $40m bus funding cut

Union fears $40m bus funding cut
Date July 17, 2012 - 3:19PM

About $40 million in funding may be stripped from southeast Queensland bus services, according to a union representing drivers, but the government says it has not finalised any decisions.

Transport Workers Union bus industry co-ordinator Bob Giddens told brisbanetimes.com.au he had heard from "very very reliable sources" that the Newman government was poised to announce cuts to passenger transport funding.

Mr Giddens said he expected Transport Minister Scott Emerson to announce $40 million in funding cuts to southeast Queensland bus services, half of which would be shaved from Brisbane City Council's Brisbane Transport arm and the remainder from the region's other operators.

Mr Giddens said resulting cuts to route frequency could jeopardise the jobs of between 400 and 500 bus drivers.

Interview requests were refused, but a spokesman for Mr Emerson disputed the $40 million figure, saying no target had been set.

However, he confirmed Mr Emerson was considering reviewing bus routes and services.

"As part of a review of his entire portfolio, the minister is currently considering a proposal to review parts of the TransLink bus network to improve reliability, frequency and connectivity," the spokesman said.

"There has been no decision on whether this review will take place or saving or reinvestment targets."

Mr Emerson's spokesman said the government had last month rolled out a $10 million package of extra bus services tied to the opening of Brisbane's Northern Busway, delivering an extra 2000 services a week to the northern suburbs.

TransLink provides funding to transport operators across southeast Queensland to provide services under the Go Card and integrated ticketing system.

TransLink is responsible for collecting fare revenue and managing government transport funding, striking service agreements with individual operators which are paid to provide services.

Mr Giddens said the union feared the impact of changes to bus routes.

"They won't be cutting the services that are running packed with workers to get to work. They will be cutting the services they perceive as not profitable and not essential," Mr Giddens said.

"Services that may be running every hour that carry 10 people an hour; that may be cut back to run every two or three hours, or they might decide to cut it completely, so there's no bus service in the area and that would be very tragic and people wouldn't be able to get to the doctor or shopping."

Mr Giddens said Mr Emerson should reinvest any savings in the sector, for example by fixing up bus stops that did not comply with legislation or boost services elsewhere.

Mr Emerson has previously stated the Newman government would be a "passenger-focused" administration.

Premier Campbell Newman promised in the election campaign to "revitalise" frontline services, but the government is currently in the process of looking for savings as it points to the financial position left by the former Labor government.

The TWU represents privately employed bus drivers in places such as the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, but does not represent Brisbane Transport employees.

Comment has been sought from Rail Tram and Bus Union state secretary Owen Doogan, whose body represents Brisbane City Council employees.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/union-fears-40m-bus-funding-cut-20120717-227w9.html

[somebody]

$40m could be cut out of the bus system with virtually no degradation in effective services, I expect.

[achiruel]

I expect this might be the death of the BUZ, they will likely look at how many people are carried at 6:30am on Sunday morning and decide to cut services from low-use times.

[#Metro]

"They won't be cutting the services that are running packed with workers to get to work. They will be cutting the services they perceive as not profitable and not essential," Mr Giddens said.

"Services that may be running every hour that carry 10 people an hour; that may be cut back to run every two or three hours, or they might decide to cut it completely, so there's no bus service in the area and that would be very tragic and people wouldn't be able to get to the doctor or shopping."

We have to be very careful here. Very early and very late services are actually what make the BUZ service work properly, even though those particular buses might not carry many people. They also allow people to leave their car at home. Any BUZ services should be exempt no question, no negotiation. On the flipside, it might finally be a boot up the bum for BT and TL to FINALLY re-organise the network and stop spending huge amounts of money duplicating everything!

In the first instance, the network planning and network structure should come under intense scrutiny as well as legacy routing and safari services. But I would say this - any savings that can be made in PT should STAY in PT and be re-invested. NOBODY should touch the BUZ.

Savings:

1. Bus lanes on arterials. Saves fuel, saves buses etc.
2. Legacy routing
3. More feeders
4. Reinvest funding into more CFN services

[beauyboy]

I totally agree hands off every BUZ and any BUZ services.
I would agrue that re-arranging of services is the best way to attach this.

Donald

[ozbob]

... review parts of the TransLink bus network to improve reliability, frequency and connectivity

This is the key.  Also duplication can be eliminated.  TransLink is the planner, BT is the operator for example.  Hopefully the Maroon (we will be 'rooned) Glider is not proceeded with as well as first floated.

[HappyTrainGuy]

What's different. Some bus stops on the northside already look like they have been cut 


I personally won't be sad to see the 340 buz go back to half hourly. Most stupid excuse for a buz route when surrounding areas have shite coverage/hours. Bracken Ridge needs a overhaul of the 326/327 and including its 330 buz (it should not be running exp Chermside-RBWH) given the close proxminity to Carseldine and Bald Hills railway stations (It might need somone to get their ass into gear and build that road in Fitzgibbon that's been promised since 06ish). 326/327 can be deleted Geebung-Toombul. Seriously, you want to see air being moved catch those two buggers. 328 should get deleted and merged onto the 335 like it used to unofficially be. Delete the new 335 extension to Sandgate. Catch the train to Boondall and use the 325/335 to get to Chermside/335 to Carseldine railway station. Chrsit, just redesign the entire northside network that's still running routes based on the BT vs QR days.

[Stillwater]

We'll all be rooned:

"We'll all be marooned," said the mob,
Who could not understand
Why a bus so useless should lob
Upon the landscape grand.

Commuters stubbed the ground
In impatient wait,
And spoke of Translink in a mood profound,
Their despair they did spake.

[ozbob]

From the ABC News click here!

Public transport jobs under threat: union

Public transport jobs under threat: union
Jonathon Hall and Andree Withey

Updated July 18, 2012 07:53:14

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) says the State Government is poised to cut hundreds of jobs at bus services in south east Queensland.

The TWU says it has received information that millions of dollars in funding is to be slashed and up to 400 drivers could lose their jobs.

Spokesman Michael Wong says the union will mount a campaign against the cuts.

He says the plan was due to be announced next week when attention is focussed on the London Olympic Games.

"The Government plans to announce next Friday, as the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games takes place, that it will cut $40 million from bus services in south east Queensland," he said.

"It's a gutless move - it's sneaky, it's deceitful and we say that Premier Campbell Newman gets a gold medal for deceit and betrayal."

Transport Minister Scott Emerson says no decisions have been made but savings are being sought.

"We've set no targets on these things but look I have said to Translink work at ways we can improve our services and I think the TWU would be fooling anyone out there to think we can't improve our bus services." Mr Emerson said.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says he knows nothing about any possible job cuts.

"I don't believe there's any threat at all," Councillor Quirk said.

"We engage as part of the contract the bus drivers, we do the maintenance of the buses, the depots themselves, and the building of the buses on a joint venture basis.

"So I think that is a fallacious remark by the TWU."

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

We agree @scottemersonmp Review Brisbane bus network please! http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8313.0

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Mayor rejects union fears of $40m bus funding cut

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Bus drivers fear for jobs in Newman Government cutbacks

Bus drivers fear for jobs in Newman Government cutbacks

Date July 28, 2012

The Queensland government denies hundreds of bus drivers are set to lose their jobs as unions claim they ambushed a secret razor gang meeting.

The Transport Workers' Union says insiders have told them the Newman government has ordered at least $40 million be cut from the transport budget.

"The transport minister needs to come clean," TWU spokesman Michael Wong said.

"We can't understand why the minister doesn't talk to drivers about the cuts that have already been made from the top.

"It's much better for him to tell drivers than for them to learn it from leaked information."

He says 80 per cent of the job losses will be frontline workers, including bus drivers and mechanics while only 20 per cent will be bureaucrats.

This will equate to about 400 frontline workers, he says.

The union says it ambushed a "secret meeting" between the government and contracting bus companies on Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Transport Minister Scott Emerson has dismissed a report that Translink will be absorbed into Queensland Transport's passenger services division, with 21 general managers to be reduced to 12.

"The government is yet to make a decision regarding the review of the portfolio," he said.

Premier Campbell Newman says his government is not cutting hospital spending, which was increased last year following natural disasters.

"What someone has chosen to do is compare the spike in catch-up hospital spending after the floods and Cyclone Yasi last year and compare it to this year, where they are back to normal levels," he told reporters in Brisbane.

AAP

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/bus-drivers-fear-for-jobs-in-newman-government-cutbacks-20120727-22zss.html#ixzz21slHvvIp