Your union was informed overnight that STA will be imposing a 50km speed limit on approximately 150 three-door Volvo bendy buses – mainly metro buses – after Volvo notified STA of a fault with a diode in the bus turntable.

We are assured that the fault is of no risk to driver or passenger safety and the 50km/hr speed limit is being implemented as a precaution only.

The affected buses are located at Port Botany, Tempe, Waverley, Leichhhardt and Ryde Depots.

STA will speed limit the bendy buses but has asked in the meantime that drivers of these buses stick to 50 km/h.

The union will be closely monitoring this situation as further investigations occur and if at any time we are caused to doubt the safety of drivers we will be demanding the buses be removed from service immediately.

The union will also be monitoring any flow on safety impacts that driving the buses at 50 km/ might bring to light.

Drivers are asked to keep in on contact with their relevant delegates should they have any concerns.

This week your union sent a strong message to the Minister for Transport that any attack on workers rights is unacceptable.

The NSW Government has announced they will be offering 750 voluntary redundancies in RailCorp middle management, splitting RailCorp into two entities Sydney Rail and NSW Rail, and introducing a new management regime for cleaners.

These cuts do not affect Bus and Tram workers but they indicate the attitude this government has to dedicated transport workers. Your union met with the Minister for Transport after the announcement and made it clear that the government’s treatment of workers would not be tolerated. Read more »

The following notice has been issued to all State Transit employees following the Transport Minister’s recent announcement that private bus operators will be required to tender for existing metropolitan bus contract.

Mr Rowley confirmed that the Sydney Buses contract will not be put to tender, which is good news for buses.

However, Mr Rowley has said that he will be looking at ”significant cost saving reforms” at State Transit without offering any details regarding what form the will take.

Your union is very concerned about this and will be keeping a close eye on STA as this process begins. Read more »

With Brett Peters…

Vice President

61. Personal Carers’ Leave

61.3 An employee must, if required by the employer, establish by production of a medical certificate OR statutory declaration, the illness of the person concerned and that the illness is such as to require care by another. Provided that, a medical certificate will be required to support any Carer’s leave in excess of 5 days per annum, unless otherwise approved by the employee’s manager.

Ash Sarker delegate at Tempe has reported that there is some confusion amongst drivers about cyclists and bus lanes.

Drivers are becoming frustrated with cyclists in the bus lane, but the RTA confirms that buses, taxis, hire cars, emergency vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles are all allowed to use the lanes.

“As more and more people ride bikes to commute to work it’s a situation where bus drivers and cyclists need to learn to share the road,” said Ash.

The problem says, Wendy Wirth from Waverly depot, is that bicycles have no number plates and drivers have no recourse when cyclists are deliberately disruptive or aggressive to buses. Read more »

Ideas put forward by drivers on how to improve Sydney buses formed part of the RTBU’s final submission to the NSW Long-Term Transport Masterplan.

RTBU Branch Secretary Alex Claassens launched the submission at an event attended by Chris Preston and Gary Way at the Sydney Mechanics School of Arts on Tuesday. 

“Everyone has a theory about what’s wrong with NSW transport,” said Mr Claassens at the event. “ Transport workers, however, understand the State’s transport system better than anyone.”

You can review the submission here.

Mr Claassens also said that increasing the number of workers on the transport network had to be a priority for any plan moving forward.

Read more »

More than one hundred staff and visitors turned out to pay their respects on ANZAC Day at the Randwick Bus Depot, which this year marks its 64th consecutive commemorative service.

The ceremony was presided over by Bill McKay, president of the Randwick Institute & Ex-Servicemen’s Committee, followed by a fitting sermon and benediction from local Reverend Greg Job from St Jude’s Anglican Church.

The mayor of Randwick City Council and executive members of local RSL Clubs laid wreaths to commemorate all conflicts. The Depot Manager, Shelley de Courcy Lys also laid a wreath on behalf of all State Transit Fallen. Read more »

With Brett Peters…

Vice President

54. Charter Work

54.1 The maximum shift portions on Charter Work are to be of five hours duration, with extended standing time to be a paid break, and treated for all purposes as crib time. Such crib time is to be of 30 minutes duration.

54.2 Timetabled peak work may be included in shifts. Where the total timetabled roadwork is to be in excess of eight and a half hours in a given shift, the circumstances are to be discussed with RTBU.

54.3 Wherever possible an unpaid meal break will be provided. However, where a continuous charter involves a full shift, 30 minute crib time is to apply.

54.4 Penalty rate to be as provided in this Award.

Contrary to rumours, the pay increase due on the 15th April 2012 was delivered on time without delay.

This pay rise comes despite the O’Farrell government’s unfair wage policy that caps any increase at 2.5 per cent unless employees can demonstrate cost offsets.

The paper work for this pay rise had to be approved by state Treasury as these cost offsets have to be in the bank before any money is released to fund the increases.

Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian has today announced that STA’s Western Sydney Buses contract to operate the Liverpool to Parramatta T-way will be transferred to a private operator.

The full details of this announcement and implications for drivers have not yet been made available.

STA CEO Peter Rowley has advised the union that he will be at Bonnyrigg depot on Thursday 3 May at 10:30am to provide a briefing to affected employees. 

At the briefing he will outline how STA intend to look after employees affected by the decision.

Between now and then, the union will be advocating strongly for members to ensure they get the best possible outcome in terms of job opportunities and entitlements from this change.

If you have any questions or concerns about this please contact the union office at: info@busexpress.com.au or on (02) 9319 7277.