Pay rise delivered on time

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.

Christmas and New Year penalty payment rates released

STA have released a memo outlining the penalty payments drivers will receive over the Christmas and New Year period.

Penalty Payments Christmas 2011

Saturday 24/12/11 (Christmas Eve)

• Normal Saturday Rates apply.
• All shifts commencing on this day will be paid time and a half up to 8’15” then double time.
• Shifts commencing Saturday and finishing Sunday will be paid time and a half until midnight then double time. Read more »

The Hot Topic

Strong voter turn out a sign of union strength

The Bus Division would like to thank everyone that came out to vote in the recent ballot for drivers on the new EA.

It was great to see a strong turn out and great to see strong support within the membership for the offer negotiated with STA.

Whether voting for or against, 2500 drivers turned out to have their say – an excellent indication of member’s engagement.

Your union is only as strong as its members and the more people participate in union matters and decision making the better.

We hope to see this level of participation maintained and grown in the coming year.

The task for the Division now is to keep an eye on STA to make sure the necessary measures are put in place to deliver the pay increases contained within the Award.

We will be working hard to ensure these savings measures are rolled out as planned into the New Year.

Bus drivers vote overwhelmingly for a better deal

Bus drivers have voted overwhelming in favour of a 3.25 per cent annual pay rise from State Transit Authority (STA) after a ballot of drivers across all fourteen depots.

The offer was put to drivers yesterday, and over 75% per cent of members voted to accept it – a barnstorming result! Read more »

Strong Delegate Support for Pay Deal

At a recent special meeting of the Divisional Executive where EVERY DEPOT was represented, it was decided unanimously to endorse the 3.25% wage deal negotiated between the Union and State Transit.

As you would be aware the Division has been in talks with STA for some months now to finalise the EA after an interim agreement was reached in August.

At that time members voted overwhelmingly in favour of an initial 2.5% pay increase back dated to the 12^th of June while the Division continued its work for a more reasonable offer.

Your union was determined to deliver a fairer outcome for members after the 2.5% wages cap was imposed on all NSW public sector workers by the new state government.

The offer of a 3.25% pay increase delivers an increase well above this wage cap. Read more »

Record number of bus drivers attend public sector rally

Hundreds of Sydney and Newcastle bus drivers turned out at yesterday’s public sector rally in the Domain, providing a good illustration of the level of anger among workers at the O’Farrell Governments IR legislation. Read more »

IR laws update at depots

The union will be visiting depots with the RTBU’s senior campaign officer Maryanne Stuart in the coming weeks to advise on the long-term strategy for dealing with the NSW government’s unfair wage policy.

Read more »

Drivers back paid as talks continue

The new interim Bus Operator Award was ratified last Friday, August 19, before Justice Staff at the industrial relations commission.

The award will see bus operators receive a 2.5% pay rise, back paid until June 12. This payment will go through in the off pay-week beginning August 31.

Read more »

Unions mass in Newcastle to protest IR laws

Delegates and members joined forces with hundreds of other angry union members to protest the O’Farrell government’s unfair public sector wages policy at a lunchtime rally in the centre of Newcastle on Friday 29 July. Read more »

Union delivers initial pay outcome as negotiations continue

Union members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of an initial 2.5% pay increase back dated to the 12^th of June, as the Bus Division gears up for further negotiations.

Members were asked in a secret ballot on the 1^st of August whether they would accept the interim wage offer of 2.5% for now whilst the RTBU continues to negotiate for employee related cost savings above and beyond the 2.5%. Read more »