Brisbane buses - industrial action

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Bus passengers travel free as drivers refuse to collect fares

UNION bus drivers plan to refuse to collect fares over two days this week as part of ongoing industrial action against Brisbane City Council.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union gave notice to the council that bus drivers planned to refuse to collect fares on Tuesday and Wednesday this week as part of the protected industrial action.

It will be the fourth time the union has closed the money tins, in a move the council estimates will cost about $2 million in lost revenue to TransLink.

A caucus of 11 unions, which have jointly renegotiating enterprise bargaining agreements, has a scheduled meeting with the council tomorrow to continue discussing work and pay conditions.

RTBU spokesman Tom Brown said the talks would likely be across a range of issues, after some headway had been made on bus driver security.

The council was forced to bolster bus drivers' security after the State Government dragged the chain in finishing its bus driver safety review.

The council has been contacted for comment.

[Otto]

Couriermail --> Bus passengers travel free as drivers refuse to collect fares

UNION bus drivers plan to refuse to collect fares over two days this week as part of ongoing industrial action against Brisbane City Council.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union gave notice to the council that bus drivers planned to refuse to collect fares on Tuesday and Wednesday this week as part of the protected industrial action.

It will be the fourth time the union has closed the money tins, in a move the council estimates will cost about $2 million in lost revenue to TransLink.

A caucus of 11 unions, which have jointly renegotiating enterprise bargaining agreements, has a scheduled meeting with the council tomorrow to continue discussing work and pay conditions.

RTBU spokesman Tom Brown said the talks would likely be across a range of issues, after some headway had been made on bus driver security.

The council was forced to bolster bus drivers' security after the State Government dragged the chain in finishing its bus driver safety review.

The council has been contacted for comment.

The Fare Free days are Wednesday and Thursday. NOT Tuesday

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

^ thanks Otto!

[ozbob]

BCC industrial action - Wednesday to Friday this week

>> https://translink.com.au/service-updates/141331

[Otto]

Yeah, Just got the Email from RTBU.. Extended to Friday...

[ozbob]

^ yep ..

Brisbanetimes --> Union pledges no fare collection for Brisbane buses for the rest of the week

Brisbane bus drivers will refuse to collect fares for the rest of the working week after the council and union again failed to negotiate a new enterprise agreement.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union met with Brisbane City Council on Tuesday to discuss a resolution a lengthy dispute over pay, rostering and safety issues.

RTBU spokesman Tom Brown said there had been some progress made but there was not enough "advancement" to stop this week's industrial action.

Unionised drivers had originally planned to offer free to travel to commuters all day on Wednesday and Thursday.

Mr Brown said it would now extend to Friday and uniforms would also not be worn.

"We expect our guys to get right into the spirit of this," he said on Tuesday.

"The public has been very supportive of us so it's an opportunity to say thank you to the public for their support."

Mr Brown said the council and RTBU had agreed to some "draft clauses" at Tuesday's meeting, including greater involvement for drivers on rosters.

But there was no agreement on pay.

The council has proposed a 2.5 per cent pay rise each year for three years, but the RTBU want 3.5 per cent.

Mr Brown also said it was not prepared to compromise when it came to driver safety.

"Safety has and always will be the RTBU's number one priority," he said.

The next meeting between the warring parties is scheduled for next week, but Mr Brown said one could be arranged at any time.

This is the fourth week in a row that drivers will take industrial action.

Last week they walked off the job for four hours on Wednesday and refused to collect fares on Friday.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/895195724480040963

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Bus driver salaries revealed as pay dispute continues

Amid bus driver strikes, free fares and enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations between bus drives and the Brisbane City Council, it has been revealed just how much the city's bus drivers earn.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union and the council have been clashing over the rate of a pay rise to be included in the EBA, with the RTBU wanting 3.5 per cent for the next three years and an $800 signing bonus and the council refusing to budge on their offer of 2.5 per cent over the three years and a $400 bonus. 

Throughout the negotiations, public transport chairman Adrian Schrinner has repeatedly said Brisbane's bus drivers are the best paid in the state, the second-best in Australia, and that they should be happy with the council's pay offer.

"Obviously, if this offer that we put on the table was below inflation, the union would be right to be screaming about it," he said.

"But, 2.5 per cent is above inflation, it's above the cost of living increases."

Cr Schrinner has revealed the average salary of a Brisbane bus driver is $68,398, or $34.61 an hour.

There are 16 bands of payment for bus drivers, from Trainee Level 1 through to Bus Operator 4.5.

"Pay ranges from the high $40,000 as a minimum starting wage and goes all the way up to the top which is $102,000," Cr Schrinner said.

"Now that $102,000 is not necessarily guaranteed every year but is based on work the driver is doing.

"There could have been a lot of overtime involved in that, there could have been that person did lots of special events."

Cr Schrinner said 660 of the about 2200 bus drivers in Brisbane were at the highest pay level or Bus Operator 4.5, or $27.12 an hour.

The latest data from the Australian Tax Office (2014-2015) revealed the average wage of a male bus driver was $52,827 while a female earned $44,089.

That compared with other drivers' average salaries:

    Taxi driver: $24,510 (male) or $26,893 (female)
    Chauffeur / hire care driver: $42,308 (male) or $31,170 (female)
    Coach driver: $49,947 (male) or $41,578 (female)
    Train driver: $108,903 (male) or $92,242 (female)
    Tram driver: $77,986 (male) or $67,501 (female)

On Wednesday, the RTBU released a statement that said union member drivers would continue to refuse to collect fares on Thursday and Friday as part of ongoing protected industrial action.

"Our drivers need better protection in the workplace, rosters that don't lead to driver fatigue and the safety risks of tired drivers at the wheel, and fair pay," the statement said.

Cr Schrinner said there had been progress made in the negotiation with the union on safety.

"The RTBU has decided and agreed that safety issues should be dealt with separately to the current industrial action," he said.

"So that's off the table in terms of the current industrial actions and the strikes.

"We've both agreed this needs to be dealt with, but not in this ultra hot situation of industrial action, it needs to be dealt with calmly in a very practical way that would make a difference and so we've agreed to do that."​

RTBU secretary Tom Brown said there had been some exchanges and limited progress made in driver safety.

"There is still a lot of ground to be addressed to secure commitments in the agreement which are binding on the parties," he said.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/RuthMcCosker/status/895470067181277184

[Fattious]

I certainly noticed loading and unloading times have approved with pax not needing touch on / off.

[Otto]

Brisbanetimes --> Bus driver salaries revealed as pay dispute continues

Cr Schrinner has revealed the average salary of a Brisbane bus driver is $68,398, or $34.61 an hour.

There are 16 bands of payment for bus drivers, from Trainee Level 1 through to Bus Operator 4.5.

"Pay ranges from the high $40,000 as a minimum starting wage and goes all the way up to the top which is $102,000," Cr Schrinner said.

How the hell does a Bus Driver earn $ 102,000 ?

I'm Full Time on top rate ( BUSOP4, Pay Scale Level 5 ), work every Sunday at double time, work some days off and I only earned just above $ 60,000... Someone is fudging figures here.. 

[Otto]

Exhibition Wednesday will be a Fare Free day on BT buses operated by RTBU members.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> RTBU's Tom Brown travels in style while Brisbane bus strikes roll on

THE union mouthpiece behind rolling bus strikes that are crippling Brisbane drives to work sipping sparkling Italian mineral water in a union-funded car while Brisbane commuters are left stranded by the side of the road.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union assistant state secretary Tom Brown was caught leaving for work behind the wheel of a Ssangyong Stavic last Friday while commuters suffer a costly public transport nightmare.

The union boss, captured with a bottle of Italian Acqua Panna bottled water in hand, has supported strikes that indirectly cost Queenslanders at least $6 million, with the figure expected to balloon during a further three weeks of planned industrial action.

Bus drivers have already gone on strike three times as part of the industrial action while union negotiations with council stall over pay and work conditions.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland conservatively estimated one peak-hour strike, in which city workers went home early to avoid becoming stranded, cost the economy $5.5 million.

Coupled with drivers refusing to collect fares – estimated by TransLink to have cost taxpayers up to $700,000 in lost revenue – the figure jumps to $6.2 million.

Figures for last Thursday and Friday, when union bus drivers again refused to collect fares, are yet to be calculated.

Mr Brown, who drove buses for 30 years before becoming a union official, said he used the work car to visit union members and never took a bus because he carries a laptop.

"I always get the car to work," Mr Brown said. "I have my stuff in it, my laptop, and I need it to get around the (bus) depots. It is not practical to carry it on the bus.

"It's a work car that the union owns."

Despite flat wages growth, the RTBU has been arguing for a 3.5 per cent pay increase every year for three years. Council has refused to budge from its above-inflation 2.5 per cent offer.

Drivers again plan to refuse to collect fares on Wednesday.

Mr Brown said negotiations were proceeding at a "snail's pace".

"It's possible the Wednesday fare-free day will be cancelled if we get an outcome on Tuesday," he said.

The RTBU can continue industrial action until early September, including strikes for two hours, four hours, or 24 hours.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/897505317096873984

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane City Council bus drivers to resume strike action this week

BRISBANE City Council bus drivers will resume strike action this week with an ongoing pay, safety and rostering dispute reaching a stalemate.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union secretary Tom Brown says drivers from Eagle Farm depot will hold a two-hour stop working meeting from 11am on Wednesday and another meeting at Willawong on Thursday.

Mr Brown says additional industrial action is also being considered.

The RTBU has been in lengthy discussions with the council, resulting in multiple strikes and drivers refusing to take fares.

The council has proposed a 2.5 per cent pay rise each year for three years but the union wants 3.5 per cent.

Mr Brown also says the RTBU is not prepared to compromise when it comes to driver safety.

[tazzer9]

Normally I'm on the unions side.  But this is stupid, they are holding everyone hostage.  The driver safety issue and driver pay dispute are two very different things.   

[Otto]

Normally I'm on the unions side.  But this is stupid, they are holding everyone hostage.  The driver safety issue and driver pay dispute are two very different things.

I guess you're not aware that the council has done a backflip on driver safety which had been agreed to. Members are angry.
Also, ALL BCC unions , not just the RTBU, are negotiating for a 3.5 % pay rise. Personally, I think if the BCC offered 3%, it would be accepted. That's the vibe I get from other drivers.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/899877308386824193

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane bus drivers will strike again in fight for improved safety

NEGOTIATIONS over Brisbane bus driver safety have gone backwards as the union prepares to ramp up rolling strike action again this week.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union spokesman Tom Brown said the negotiations took a backward step after Brisbane City Council rejected a clause about bus driver safety the union wanted inserted into the enterprise bargaining agreement.

"We were absolutely gobsmacked because we didn't feel that it was so intrusive," Mr Brown said.

The clause was about the creation of a bus driver safety committee, which would include the union as a member.

"We welcome any measure towards bus driver safety," Mr Brown said. "However, it needs to be a measure that cannot be walked away from by the council when they feel like it.

"That's why we've asked for it to be in the EBA."

Council had previously said the union agreed that bus driver safety should be treated separately to other demands, including pay and rostering issues, being negotiated as part of the agreement.

However, Mr Brown said council had jumped the gun, which was denied by Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner, who accused the union of failing to negotiate in good faith.

Cr Schrinner said: "On 3 August 2017, at EBA negotiations in the presence of other union delegates, the RTBU agreed that matters of safety would be handled outside of the EBA negotiations, at regular dedicated safety meetings."

Union bus drivers will now strike as part of low-impact protected industrial action this week so members can be asked if they want to treat safety as a separate issue.

Bus driver safety negotiations had previously progressed after council agreed to step up because of a vacuum created in the absence of the State Government's bus driver safety review.

Council had previously argued it wanted more transit security officers installed — a responsibility of State Government-run TransLink — because they had more power than security guards. Council has already committed $1.3 million towards bus driver safety after completing its own bus driver safety report following the death of Manmeet Sharma when he was attacked on the job last year.

Mr Brown said he was "extremely disappointed" the State Government had failed to complete the safety review, which was due to be finished in March.

"I can't wait to see that review," Mr Brown said. "It's been overdue. We've always called for it and I will continue to call for it."

The protected industrial action period ends on September 11 but it is understood some unions, which are also negotiating with council, had been granted an extension.

When the industrial action ends, council has been approved to take a vote from all council staff to ask whether the employees would accept the terms of the proposed bargaining agreement. If that is successful, it is likely the changes would be implemented.
DEPOTS WITH STOP WORK ACTION:

Eagle Farm: Aug. 23 (11-1pm)

Willawong: Aug. 24 (11-1pm)

Sherwood: Aug. 25 (10-12pm)

Garden City: Aug. 25 (12-2pm)

Toowong: Aug. 28 (10-12pm)

Virginia: Aug. 28 (12-2pm)

Carina: Aug. 29 (12-2pm)

[Otto]

Wednesday 23 August

    From 11am-1pm, routes from Eagle Farm depot may be affected, including: 196, 198, 199, 210, 214, 230, 232, 235, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 310, 320, 321, 322, 325, 329, 330, 333, 334, 335, 336, 338, 340, 345, 346, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 357, 359, 363, 364, 367, 369, 370, 372, 373, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 385, 390, 391, 393, 396, 397, 398 and 470.

Thursday 24 August

    From 11am-1pm, routes from Willawong depot may be affected, including: 29, 66, 100, 106, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 120, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 130, 131, 132, 134, 135, 136, 138, 139, 140, 145, 150, 152, 153, 155, 156, 160, 161, 162, 170, 172, 174, 175, 180, 181, 184, 185, 186, 451, 452, 453, 454, 460, 467 and 468.

Friday 25 August

    From 10am-12pm, routes from Sherwood depot may be affected, including; 66, 104, 105, 111, 116, 120, 124, 125, 139, 161, 169, 170, 172, 174, 175, 180, 196, 402, 411, 412, 414, 417, 425, 427, 428, 430, 432, 433, 435, 444, 445, 470, 471, 475, 476, 598 and 599.

    From 12pm-2pm, routes from Garden City depot may be affected, including: 29, 50, 66, 77, 111, 112, 117, 120, 124, 125, 130, 132, 139, 140, 150, 152, 155, 160, 161, 169, 170, 172, 174, 175, 180, 184, 185, 192, 200, 209, 222 and 590.

    Friday from first until last service, some drivers may not collect fares or wear their normal uniforms. This may affect all Brisbane City Council bus services.

Monday 28 August

    From 10am-12pm, routes from Toowong depot may be affected, including: 30, 40, 60, 199, 333, 360, 361, 362, 370, 372, 375, 377, 378, 380, 381, 385, 390, 402, 411, 412, 414, 415, 417, 425, 427, 428, 430, 432, 433, 435, 444, 445, 470, 471, 475 and 476.

    From 12pm-2pm, routes from Virginia depot may be affected, including: 300, 301, 306, 307, 310, 320, 321, 322, 325, 330, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 340, 345, 346, 350, 353, 354, 359, 367, 369, 370, 375, 379, 380, 381, 385, 390, 397 and 398.

Tuesday 29 August

    From 12pm-2pm, routes from Carina depot may be affected, including: 29, 61, 174, 175, 177, 180, 184, 185, 200, 202, 203, 204, 209, 210, 212, 215, 220, 222, 223, 224, 225, 227, 230, 232, 234, 235, and 590.

[ozbob]

^ thanks Otto.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/900112870842679296

[ozbob]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/143841

BCC buses - strike action - 23-29 August

Brisbane City Council (BCC) bus services will be affected by industrial action from Wednesday 23 August until Tuesday 29 August (weekdays only).

Full details >> https://translink.com.au/service-updates/143841

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/brisbanetimes/status/900201857599066113

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane bus drivers to strike again

BUS drivers will be joined by other Brisbane City Council workers as they strike again this week over a long-running industrial dispute with management.

Staff will walk off the job between 10am-2pm and 6pm-10pm on Thursday.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union secretary Tom Brown said they would also hold a rally outside Brisbane City Hall during the first strike.

"City Hall is the target so the Lord Mayor (Graham Quirk) can hear us," he said.

Unionised staff from other council areas are also expected to join the industrial action.

Mr Brown said the strike was originally planned in relation to the ongoing dispute with the council over a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

"But the attack on the bus driver over the weekend has really doubled our efforts," he said.

"It has much more importance in it now."

A teenager will appear in court next month after a 67-year-old driver was headbutted on a bus at Mount Gravatt East on Saturday night.

Mr Brown said the man was recovering but has an eye injury.

"He's still got blurred vision," he said.

The RTBU has been at loggerheads with the council for months over pay, rostering and safety issues.

This week's strike is just the latest industrial action to affect Brisbane commuters over the past six weeks.

Mr Brown said they wanted security guards on the bus network so they were able to "get on any and every bus".

"High visibility makes a difference," he said.

Bus drivers will continue to hold stop work meetings at Toowong, Virginia and Carina depots today and tomorrow.

The RTBU and the council will also hold another round of negotiations tomorrow.

Brisbane City Council has been contacted for comment.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/903011213532995584

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane bus timetable reeling from strikes but council makes new pay offer to drivers

BRISBANE City Council will take a pay offer straight to employees for a vote in an attempt to end a brutal negotiating deadlock that has resulted in rolling strike action.

Council was granted the right to take the 2.5 per cent pay offer, with a $400 sign-on bonus, to its staff for a formal vote on its enterprise bargaining agreement offer.

A cabal of 11 unions have been arguing for 3.5 per cent increase, with an $800 sign-on payment.

The deadlock has resulted in a series of rolling strikes across council departments, including bus drivers, who have been striking continually since July this year.

If workers vote in favour of the offer, it is understood council can use it to argue a case the 2.5 per cent pay rise should be accepted as part of the enterprise bargaining agreement.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk is expected to make an announcement about the vote today.

Negotiations have been ongoing since the previous agreement expired in October last year.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/brisbanetimes/status/904531967680495617

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/904840084477714432

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/904932079250456576

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Team_Quirk/status/908156846237556736

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/908160147897200640

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/couriermail/status/908158802251452417

Couriermail --> Brisbane City Council reaches deal with unions over pay battle

BRISBANE City Council has reached a crucial wage deal with two unions in a move to end rolling strike action.

Council will be chalking up a win after it reached an agreement that bus drivers and office workers should receive a 2.5 per cent pay rise each year for the next two years.

The agreement will still need to go out for a staff vote on the offer in a ballot expected to be delivered next month.

Acting Mayor Adrian Schrinner said: "We are pleased that these unions have negotiated in good faith in the past week and reached agreement with council.

"The outcome still needs to go to a formal vote of staff but if it is successful, this will be a very fair outcome for council staff and a good outcome for ratepayers.

It came after council spent this week locked in a court battle with the unions at the Industrial Relations Commission in a bid to end an impasse over a pay increase.

Unions have been arguing for a 3.5 per cent raise, based on projected wages growth, but council has remained steadfast with an above inflation 2.5 per cent wage rise.

The stalemate has led to rolling strike action, including across the bus network, for the past few months.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/fel_caldwell/status/908168761005371394