If you were planning on catching a bus to work in Sydney‘s south or inner-west tomorrow, you should probably begin formulating another strategy, as 1200 bus staff prepare to strike as of midnight tonight.
The 24-hour strike is to protest the NSW government’s proposed move to privatise bus routes in the south and inner-west which, according to the NSW Rail, Tram and Bus Union, transport minister Andrew Constance promised would not be happening in last December.
The strike will affect routes running from the Leichhardt, Burwood, Kingsgrove and Tempe depots, covering the area shown in the map below:
Photo: RTBU.
Bus division secretary Chris Preston said the union was “deeply apologetic” for any inconvenience caused but that Constance is the “one person to blame for this stoppage“:
“With no warning, no consultation and against explicit undertakings, he has placed the future of 1,200 bus drivers and depot staff in limbo.“This action is our members’ initial response to this outrageous action. […] This is an inconvenience that a competent and trustworthy Transport Minister would never allow to happen.”
The strike covers a pretty large area and they are suggesting people start planning alternate routes:
“Members of the public should make alternative arrangements to travel to work and get their children to school.”
Preston says their ultimate goal is that Gladys Berejiklian will step in:
“Minister Constance needs to understand that you cannot treat the community and public transport workers with such contempt.“We call on the Premier to intervene as a matter of urgency and put a stop to this attack on our public transport network.”
Constance himself is hoping people will ignore the union and choose not to strike, which makes sense, because people hate taking the day off work:
“This call for a strike is about union bosses putting themselves before customers, egged on by the Labor Party.“I hope the majority of bus drivers who want to deliver a better service to customers ignore their union bosses and show up to work tomorrow.”
Solidarity, mates.
Source: SMH.
Photo: Getty Images / Mark Kolbe.
