About 2000 Sydney bus drivers represented by the Rail Tram and Bus Union began indefinite work bans across routes in the eastern suburbs, northern beaches, lower north shore and inner north-west, with authorities warning of delays and cancellations as the NSW government unveiled an extra 3000 weekly bus services.
The actions began early on Wednesday, with drivers refusing to drive buses showing warning lights on dashboards. From Thursday, the work bans will be expanded to refusing to drive from depots any bus that does not have full fuel tanks or fully charged batteries.
The escalation comes as the government announced an extra 3000 weekly bus services, bringing the total of new services since the 2023 state election to 9000, a 3 per cent rise. The changes include new 24-hour operations on the 343 route between Kingsford and Circular Quay and the 370 route between Coogee and Glebe Point, along with alterations to inner-west routes to improve connections to train stations along the southwest corridor.
The industrial action is part of a long-running pay dispute between unions and private operators Keolis, Transdev John Holland and Busways. Drivers are seeking a pay rise of about 22 per cent over three years without changes to conditions. Unions said the base wage for a driver in Sydney is about $67,000 a year. The government committed $200 million in July to support higher wages for more than 8000 bus drivers.
Graham said the government had put the $200 million on the table to assist negotiations, and that it was confident it could have drivers to operate the extra services. Rail Tram and Bus Union divisional president Peter Grech said the industrial action is aimed at putting pressure on the bus companies, not inconveniencing passengers. Grech said both sides were close to agreement on the pay rise but at odds over what he described as an attempted casualisation of the workforce by operators.
Transport for NSW warned the indefinite actions could result in the delay or cancellation of some services where buses were unable to meet the requirements of the notified work bans. With the potential for longer wait times, the agency encouraged passengers, including students sitting HSC exams this week, to allow extra travel time and consider travelling outside peak periods where possible.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Commuters in Sydney's eastern suburbs, northern beaches, and inner west face significant delays from the indefinite work bans.
- The dispute highlights tensions between the state government's transport expansion goals and the labour costs required to run the services.
- The outcome will set a benchmark for private bus operator pay and conditions in Sydney.
Background
Industrial action by Sydney bus drivers follows nine months of negotiations between the RTBU and private bus operators. The drivers are seeking a 22 per cent pay rise over three years. Bus driver vacancies have fallen over the past year, dropping to 213 in September from 372 a year earlier, and the government has contributed $200 million to support wage increases.
Key Perspectives
Transport Minister John Graham: says the government is investing in the bus network to cope with a growing city and has put $200 million on the table to assist negotiations between the union and operators.
RTBU divisional president Peter Grech: says the industrial action is designed to pressure bus companies to reach a deal, and while pay is close to being agreed, the union is opposed to the operators' attempts to casualise the workforce.
What to Watch
- Whether the industrial action escalates further if a deal is not reached.
- The impact on students sitting HSC exams this week, who are being advised to allow extra travel time.
- The successful rollout of the 9000 new weekly services promised by the government.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedSydney bus drivers escalated industrial action as the government unveiled 3,000 weekly services.The Age - Latest News: “The NSW government has unveiled an extra 3000 weekly bus services just as drivers who work across a swath of Sydney routes including on the northern beaches and eastern suburbs escalate industrial action”
- SupportedTransport for NSW warned of delays and cancellations.The Age - Latest News: “Transport for NSW has warned that the indefinite actions could result in the delay or cancellation of some services”
- SupportedThe pay dispute remains unresolved.The Age - Latest News: ““We have been negotiating for nine months, and we haven’t got an outcome,” he said”
- SupportedAbout 2,000 drivers represented by the Rail Tram and Bus Union began bans on routes in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, northern beaches, lower north shore and inner north-west.The Age - Latest News: “The first indefinite work bans by about 2000 drivers represented by the Rail Tram and Bus Union started early on Wednesday”
- SupportedThe bans began early Wednesday with drivers refusing to drive buses showing dashboard warning lights.The Age - Latest News: “started early on Wednesday, which involved them refusing to drive buses showing warning lights on dashboards.”
- SupportedFrom Thursday, drivers will refuse to drive from depots buses without full fuel tanks or fully charged batteries.The Age - Latest News: “From Thursday, they will expand the action to refusing to drive from depots any bus that does not have full fuel tanks or fully charged batteries.”
- SupportedThe extra 3,000 weekly services bring the total added since the 2023 state election to 9,000, a 3 per cent rise.The Age - Latest News: “It takes the total number of new services to 9000, or a 3 per cent rise, since Labor won the 2023 state election.”
- SupportedRoutes 343 and 370 will have new 24-hour operations.The Age - Latest News: “Two of Sydney’s busiest bus routes – the 343 between Kingsford and Circular Quay and the 370 between Coogee and Glebe Point – will operate 24 hours a day throughout the week.”
- SupportedInner-west bus routes are being altered to improve connections to train stations along the southwest corridor.The Age - Latest News: “inner west bus routes are being altered to improve connections to train stations along the southwest corridor.”
- SupportedDrivers are seeking a pay rise of about 22 per cent over three years without changes to conditions.The Age - Latest News: “Drivers are seeking a pay rise of about 22 per cent over three years without changes to conditions.”
- SupportedUnions said the base wage for a Sydney bus driver is about $67,000 a year.The Age - Latest News: “Unions said the base wage for a driver in Sydney was about $67,000 a year.”
- SupportedThe government committed $200 million in July to support higher wages for more than 8,000 bus drivers.The Age - Latest News: “the government committed $200 million in July to support higher wages for more than 8000 bus drivers”