Brisbane buses - industrial action

[ozbob]

Fair bit on the bus issues in this segment ..

https://twitter.com/tennewsqld/status/890479393675460608

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Friday commuter chaos predicted due to bus driver strike

While bus users may have enjoyed a free trip on Thursday, they should prepare for transport chaos on Friday as drivers plan to walk off the job during peak time.

On Thursday, many commuters were greeted by Go Card machines that were covered up or had "free fare" signs on them them as the Rail, Tram and Bus Union started day one of their two-day strike.

Up to 800 bus drivers could go on strike and not drive their routes between 2pm and 6pm on Friday. Photo: Michelle Smith

A half-hour-long tally of 48 randomly selected buses in the inner city revealed about 60 per cent of the buses offered free fares.

Fares will be back to normal on Friday but bus drivers will not work from 2-6pm.

The strike action is linked to the ongoing negotiations between RTBU and the Brisbane City Council of their enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA).
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Bus drivers are fighting for safer buses, rostering changes and an annual pay increase for the next three years of 3.5 per cent.

To date, council have offered a 2.5 per cent pay increase over three years, plus a $400 signing bonus, and have said this offer won't change.

In an attempt to reach an agreement and stop Friday's planned strike action, RTBU spoke with council chief executive Colin Jensen for more than three hours on Thursday afternoon, but the two parties failed to reach a resolution.

With between 600 and 800 bus drivers expected to walk off the job on Friday, up to 23,000 school students could struggle to get home and thousands of other commuters could be inconvenienced.

The council and RTBU have committed to the "no child will be left behind" policy and the council will ensure bus drivers working on Friday drive the school routes.

The council's public transport boss Adrian Schrinner said all parents should have a plan B for their child's afternoon commute on Friday.

"We've done a bit of a ring around to get an indication of who will be striking and who won't," he said.

"We have put available resources on those school routes and we are quite confident those school routes will be covered, it's the other routes we're concerned about," he said.

"There are literally thousands of trips across the city that school students are making on general bus services. These services are potentially going be affected by the strike action."

Cr Schrinner said it was "understandable" if parents opted to not send their children to school to potentially avoid a child being left with no way home.

"I have got three young children and there is nothing more important than children's safety," he said.

"So if there is doubt, and if there is some reason you cannot find a way to safely get your child home tomorrow, I can understand why parents would be feeling that way.

"Ultimately, what we're saying is please make other plans and ultimately it's up to the parents to do the right thing by their children to ensure their children's safety."

Cr Schrinner asked all bus drivers to to think twice before going on strike Friday afternoon.

A Department of Education and Training spokesman said all metropolitan state schools would be open as normal on Friday.

"Parents of children who will be affected by Friday's bus strike have been urged to consider alternative school transport arrangements for their children," the spokesman said.

"This could include private transport, carpooling, walking to school as a group, or other public transport (trains/ferries), cycling or other transport arrangements.

"The Department is committed to student safety and parents and carers need to ensure they have appropriate arrangements in place for their children to get to and from school safely in light of the strike."

Information on the industrial action can be found on the Translink website or by calling 13 12 30.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane bus driver strike forces early end to trial

A MAJOR Brisbane bus driver strike planned for this afternoon has forced an early finish to an attempted murder trial, after jurors raised concerns they would be unable to get home.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union estimates 600 to 800 drivers will walk off the job across all seven Brisbane depots this afternoon from 2-6pm as part of protected industrial action.

Brisbane City Council called an emergency meeting with the union yesterday after the standoff raised fears 17,500 school children who caught general buses could be at risk if they were left without transport. Those 11th-hour negotiations remained ongoing at time of print.

It came as Justice Martin Burns yesterday told the jurors in the Watterson attempted murder trial they could finish sitting as early as 12.30pm today to catch buses home.

Mr Burns said some jurors had expressed concerns that they would be unable to get home from the city if they sat until the usual time of 4.30pm.

A Queensland Courts spokesman was unable to confirm whether any other juries were being discharged early in other court rooms.

Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner said he believed the strike action was getting the public off side with the union.

"Ultimately, I always understood that strike action was intended to get the community on side with a particular position," Cr Schrinner said.

"I don't believe that is happening at the moment. I believe the opposite is happening."

RTBU spokesman Tom Brown declined to return requests for comment yesterday afternoon.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/890607657400139776

^

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/890609547382935553

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

28th July 2017

Brisbane buses -  Industrial action today compounded by rail fail

Good Morning,

Despite the last minute negotiations it does seem that the Brisbane bus services will be severely disrupted this afternoon peak by the proposed industrial action. This will cause chaos and great concern for many of course.

It is worth noting ( again ) that we have the ' Friday Timetable ' today on the Queensland Rail network.  This timetable has even less services than the already reduced service Monday to Thursday timetable.

Our advice to intending passengers is to allow plenty of time for travel, and travel early where possible to avoid peaks.

Good luck Brisbane!  Skewered yet again ..

Regards
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

Sent to all outlets:

25th July 2017

Brisbane buses - proposed industrial action

Good Morning,

There will be more ongoing industrial action.  On  this Thursday, the RTBU has said bus drivers will refuse to collect fares, one can only assume they will refuse to turn on go card facilities on board the buses too.  Additionally, a strike is proposed for this Friday, between 2pm to 6pm.  This will wreck the public transport system for Brisbane, disrupt school travel particularly.  Don't forget Queensland Rail has the rail fail ' Friday Timetable ' which has even less service than the Monday to Thursday reduced service timetable.  This will not end well.

We call for urgent negotiations to sort this mess.  The public has been suffering long enough with mediocre public transport in Brisbane and SEQ.

Any leaders left?

Best wishes,
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

Reference:

Couriermail --> Public transport Brisbane: Free bus travel, followed by strike

BRISBANE bus drivers are refusing to collect fares on Thursday this week before going on strike during Friday peak hour as as a bitter feud with council intensifies.

    Rail, Tram and Bus Union spokesman Tom Brown said bus union drivers would refuse to collect fares for the whole day on Thursday as part of ongoing industrial action.

    Then on Friday, members will strike for the second time in two weeks. This time the strike will last for four hours, between 2-6pm.

    Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the RTBU's move to shut down fare collection — including go card facilities — as part of protected industrial action would sting ratepayers up to $515,000.

    He called on drivers to put the safety of 23,000 children first instead of adhering to the union's strike call from 2pm to 6pm on Friday.

    "I urge parents and schools to ensure alternate arrangements are made to ensure the safety of school children on Friday afternoon," he said.

    "While the school-run services will be our operational priority, most school children catch normal bus services."

    Cr Quirk warned the impacts would likely be felt from 1pm to 7pm on Friday but council would be increasing CityCat services to help make up for the shortfall in buses.

    Drivers walked off the job on Tuesday and Wednesday last week between 4.30-6.30am as part of industrial action after enterprise bargaining agreements with council soured.

    The union has been arguing for more security on buses, better pay and more input into the rostering system since the previous enterprise bargaining agreement expired in October last year.

    Cr Quirk said the union had rejected council's offer to meet this Friday because of "other committements".

    RTBU spokesman Tom Brown refused to return requests for comment because he was "at a function".

[ozbob]

Latest:
Brisbane buses - Industrial action today compounded by rail fail
> https://t.co/FtdkSEw24M#qldpol pic.twitter.com/IprFAScZg5

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) July 27, 2017

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/890657993951387648

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/890708394532843521

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/137756

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

Friday 28 July

A work stoppage will be in place between 2pm and 6pm on Friday afternoon. Some bus services will run however all BCC bus passengers should expect disruptions between 1pm and 7pm. We'll continue to monitor the situation and keep this page updated with the latest information.

Travel tips for Friday:

    Travel outside the afternoon peak.
    Consider another mode (such as train or ferry) if available to you. There will be additional CityCat services - see details below.
    Allow more time to get to your destination.
    Journey Planner and real-time through the app may be unreliable for BCC bus service information.
    Other bus transport providers will operate as normal, but may experience crowding.
    Consider walking or cycling to reach your destination.
    Avoid unnecessary travel or consider working from home, if possible.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/890704423743139840

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/890774440484655104

[ozbob]

I am about to head off to my grand daughter's school (Corinda St J.) for pick up.  It will be interesting to see if the school run buses turn up.

If they don't I predict more than a few children stranded.

The unions have helped to fuk the rail network, guess they want to do the same to the buses ..

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/890788503428055045

[Mr X]

Cancelling all school services at the last minute, which were earlier promised to be operating, is really really low 

[SurfRail]

The prevailing sentiment I have encountered really isn't one of support for the union.  This won't help.

[Otto]

The prevailing sentiment I have encountered really isn't one of support for the union.  This won't help.

Agree.. The timing is just wrong... ( And I am an RTBU member ) Should never be allowed to affect school kids traveling to or from school .

[ozbob]

Some good news ...

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/890796681255469056

pic.twitter.com/UWrnn5AdFV

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) July 28, 2017

701 school bus Corinda has turned up no sign of 766 pic.twitter.com/vO2DsbsyT1

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) July 28, 2017

766 has now turned up pic.twitter.com/07zij7Z8Cd

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) July 28, 2017

[ozbob]

Been advised that all the school buses for Indro S H S turned up too.

[Cazza]

Just some observations in The Gap/Ashgrove area:

For the first time, I rode to school today as I didn't want to risk my bus not turning up. Both the S788 (The Gap SS to City) and S786 (West Ashgrove to Bardon via The Gap SHS) turned up. Inbound 3:04pm 385 ran to normal. 2:30pm outbound route 380 also turned up (passing The Gap SHS at about 3pm). Not sure about 3:01pm inbound 380 (although S788 ran anyway).

Also saw S773 (Marist to Ashgrove via Enoggera) and S787 (Marist to The Gap) as I was out and about.

We were advised by the principal yesterday about the bus strikes so not many students got the bus.

[ozbob]

Thanks to the Drivers who kept the wheels of the bus going round and round during the ' strike ' , particularly the school services.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/JoelDry9/status/890846018148810753

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/tobycrockford23/status/890846863875751937

[Cazza]

^ I love watching time-lapses like these. In a way, they are kind of mesmerising 

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/890843421581033472

https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/890844521155526657

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/890853045503905792

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane City Council bus strike could roll on if deadlock continues

BRISBANE commuters could be staring down the barrel of rolling bus driver strikes, costing the economy at least $5.5 million a day, if a deadlock with council ­remains unresolved.

Half of all bus services were cut yesterday after Rail, Tram and Bus Union drivers undertook protected industrial action across all seven city depots during peak hour.

Taxis remained booked throughout the afternoon, while Uber appeared able to contain its surge pricing throughout by asking more drivers to get on the road.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland ­advocacy boss Kate Whittle conservatively estimated the economy lost $5.5 million in productivity yesterday as workers went home early.

The strike went ahead after enterprise bargaining negotiations with a caucus of powerful unions, including the RTBU, reached a stalemate. Council called an emergency meeting with the caucus on Thursday, but it failed to reach a resolution.

In an unfolding drama, it came after other unions started escalating their own ­industrial action. The Transport Workers' Union, which includes asphalt truck drivers, has issued a notice to strike for two four-hour periods next Wednesday.

The Australian Workers' Union also has started industrial action, with workers refusing to clean toilets. The union is taking the same action against Gold Coast City Council. RTBU spokesman Tom Brown, who said a resolution was unlikely, refused to rule out more strike action.

The union is to meet with council on Tuesday.

Brisbane Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner accused the union of refusing to compromise, but said council was willing to hold further talks.

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/891918074642935809

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> More bus strikes planned for Wednesday

Brisbane's bus services will be reduced for four hours on Wednesday as the Rail, Tram and Bus union enter another week of strike action.

On Monday, the RTBU advised Brisbane City Council some drivers would be participating in industrial action from 10am to 2pm on Wednesday.

Brisbane bus drivers will strike from 10am to 2pm on Wednesday, august 2. 

This follows most union-member drivers offering free fares on Thursday last week before walking off the job from 2pm to 6pm on the Friday.
Commuters were left waiting for buses at the Queen Street bus station during strike action on Friday

The week earlier drivers went on strike from 4.30am to 6.30am on Tuesday and Wednesday.

It is understood this week's strike action is part of the union's ongoing fight for safer buses, a wage increase and rostering changes.

The RTBU met with the council for more than seven hours on Thursday evening, again Friday morning and have a meeting scheduled for Tuesday - but an agreement to stop the strike action is yet to be met.

Comment has been sought from the RTBU.

In a statement issued Monday afternoon, the council said major impacts to bus services across the network were expected until about 2.45pm as services returned to normal.

"Commuters who normally travel during these times are advised to plan ahead and make alternative arrangements," it said.

During Friday's strike there were long queues of resident's waiting for buses while the electronic timetables and Translink app showed a majority of services as "cancelled".

Commuters are urged to check the Translink app, website or contact 13 12 30 for information on Wednesday afternoon. 

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> More Brisbane bus strikes set for this week

BUS drivers will join council employees in more strike action this week as the union feud with council continues to escalate into rolling industrial action.

Bus drivers plan to walk off the job from 10am to 2pm on Wednesday in a show of solidarity with other council employees who plan to strike on the same day.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union secretary Tom Brown, who estimated up to 600 drivers would participate from all seven depots, said the strike action had been confirmed with council today.

Australian Workers' Union members, whose members include outdoor council workers, will also join Transport Workers' Union members in the protected industrial action on Wednesday.

A council spokesman said bus services were expected to return to normal after 2.45pm but "no major impacts" were anticipated across the network.

The low-impact industrial action follows a major peak hour strike across all seven depots on Friday last week after tensions with council came to a head.

Despite flat wages growth, the RTBU have been demanding a 3.5 per cent pay rise, which council estimated would cost ratepayers an extra $52 million more than the 2.5 per cent pay rise council had offered.

However, Mr Brown questioned whether that figure was correct.

"We think 3.5 per cent is modest," Mr Brown said. "It's not going to boost wages a great deal. We have members who are already struggling to pay bills. That's what it really comes down to."

The RTBU wants input into the rostering system to help manage driver fatigue but council has refused to cede any control of it to the union, citing fears it would turn into a similar fiasco that consumed Queensland Rail.

However, Mr Brown said bus driver safety remained the union's priority.

The union has also asked for greater security on buses after ongoing assaults, which culminated in the death of driver Manmeet Alisher last year.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/892198695118151680

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane City Council transport boss fears bus strikes may drag on

BRISBANE'S public transport boss is "losing confidence" a deadlock that has resulted in rolling bus driver strikes will be resolved.

Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner told the public transport committee on Tuesday morning that council was hoping for the best but planning for the worst as negotiations with unions continue.

"As time has gone on, I'm losing confidence that they will come to an agreement, which is also an appropriate agreement for the ratepayers of Brisbane," Cr Schrinner said.

Council is due to meet with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union on Tuesday.

Cr Schrinner warned there were isolated instances of union drivers abusing employees who continued to work through the strike.

He said complaints had been made.

"There has been a few instances where drivers who have kept working have copped abuse by drivers who are striking," Cr Schrinner said.

"Obviously that's not on."

RTBU spokesman Tom Brown has previously said it was understandable casual bus drivers would take shifts during the strike action because they needed to put food on the table.

Cr Schrinner told the committee meeting that council had agreed to double its investment in security guards because the State Government had failed to step up to the plate with its bus driver safety review that was due to be finalised back in March this year.

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> City Council claims rail/bus union wants to call shots

BRISBANE'S deputy mayor has accused the Rail Bus and Tram Union of wanting to "control City Hall" ahead of another possible bus strike on Wednesday.

As the administration faced questions on its alleged "industrial relations crisis", public and active transport chairman Adrian Schrinner pointed the finger at George Street.

He said the council had delivered and was implementing its bus driver safety review and had agreed to put on more security guards during EBA negotiations.

Cr Schrinner said the State Government had still not released its safety review into bus driver safety, expected in March, but the union had decided the council "was 100 per cent to blame".

"They won't picket outside the state parliament," he said.

"The unions control George St and they want to control City Hall and they're not getting it."

A spokeswoman for Transport Minister Jackie Trad said the bus safety review had concluded and the Government would "release its full response shortly".

She said the Government had introduced several recommendations of the review including a trial of shatter-resistant window film on Cairns and Gold Coast buses.

The state has also increased the frequency of Bus Safety Forum meetings from two to six per year.

Earlier in the meeting opposition leader Peter Cumming said the Lord Mayor was facing an "industrial relations crisis".

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said he believed the pay offer was fair and promised the union would not have control of bus rosters while Brisbane was "under my control".

He said it was his duty to present an offer that was fair to staff and fair to ratepayers.

The Rail Bus and Tram Union has been contacted for comment.

There is another bus strike planned for Wednesday, August 2, from 10am to 2pm.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/892497685365882880

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/892600906344153089

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/892657098470838273

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/892658399527059456

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane bus strike: Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says pay offer non-negotiable

BRISBANE Lord Mayor Graham Quirk has declared the city won't be held to ransom over rolling strike action during the next five weeks.

A cabal of 11 unions are refusing to rule out broadening strike action from bus drivers and cleaners to librarians, call centre workers and other frontline services in a new Battle of Brisbane.

However as about 500 union members rallied outside City Hall yesterday, Cr Quirk said council would refuse to budge from its 2.5 per cent pay rise offer for employees.

"We've already indicated that we've got a solid offer on the table," Cr Quirk said.

"We believe that it's a fair and reasonable offer and we're not about to budge on that offer."

Bus drivers went out on strike yesterday for four hours, with hundreds protesting in King George Square while nearby streets were empty of buses.

The powerful union bloc have about five more weeks to undertake a range of protected industrial action, including striking for up to 24 hours, as part of negotiating tactics against council.

But Cr Quirk said he had a responsibility as the "custodian of ratepayers' money" to maintain the 2.5 per cent pay rise offer as part of the new enterprise bargaining agreement.

The union caucus on Tuesday presented council with a formal request for a 3.5 per cent pay rise over three years, plus an $800 sign-on bonus, which is above council's $400 offer.

The Courier-Mail revealed this week a 3.5 per cent pay rise would cost ratepayers an extra $52 million above the $128 million budgeted for the 2.5 per cent pay rise for 7500 employees.

However unions argue the pay rise would be on par with wages growth for minimum workers.

Australian Services Union secretary Neil Henderson refused to rule out strike action for frontline council staff, including call centre operators, but said it would be used as a last resort.

"For the council, it needs to start bargaining because the workers are showing they're putting their money where their mouth is," Mr Henderson said.

It comes as bus drivers will refuse to collect fares tomorrow, costing ratepayers an estimated $515,000, after they yesterday walked off the job for the fourth time in two weeks.

Council said about 50 per cent of drivers participated in the strike, with 65 per cent of bus trips unaffected.

Rail, Tram and Bus spokesman Tom Brown said it was "unprecedented" for all council unions to rally against the administration. It is the first time bus drivers have gone on strike since 1998.

Meanwhile, Transport Workers Union spokesman Troy Fernandez said members were just asking for a "lousy dollar an hour for our members".

[ozbob]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/140476

BCC industrial action - Friday 4 August

We have been advised that industrial action will occur on some Brisbane City Council (BCC) bus services on Friday 4 August.

All services will run as normal, however some drivers may not be collecting fares or wearing their normal uniforms.

This action is due to a dispute between the operator, Brisbane City Council buses, and the Rail Tram and Bus Union. Only BCC bus services will be involved - this includes most routes between 29 and 599 - see full list below.

Please be aware that normal TransLink fares and conditions of travel apply on all services. Be prepared to pay for your travel as normal.

School services

School services will not be affected during this industrial action.

Please be prepared to pay for you child's travel as normal.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/893153712205553664

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/893215611681071105

https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/893216580749762560