Striking Brissy Bus Drivers Are Letting Everyone Ride For Free On Thursday

 

Woo woo, bus fares are cheap as free this Thursday in Brisbane thanks to an ongoing industrial action by bus drivers and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union.
Union spokesman Tom Brown said that bus drivers would refuse to collect fares on Thursday, before their second strike in as many weeks on Friday between 2 and 6pm.
The strike is likely to cause massive peak hour delays, but hey, good excuse as any for a couple knockoffs, amirite?
The lizard knows I am right. 
Last week Brissy bus drivers went on strike between 4.30 and 6.40am on Tuesday and Wednesday, causing some delays to an estimated 35,000 earlybird commuters.
The enterprise agreement negotiations between the Union and Brisbane City Council reflect the concerns of bus drivers about safety, in the wake of violent attacks on council bus drivers. They’re asking for more security on problem routes, as well as a decent pay rise (above 2.5%) and a better rostering system. Sounds fair enough, really.
Brown said:

We will not stop campaigning until we get a fair agreement, but that will only happen when the Quirk Brisbane City Council agrees to sit down and resolve our claims. 

 

Today, I’m calling on the BCC to get back to the table. The time for hiding is over – it’s time to negotiate the end of this dispute.”
Meanwhile Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says the refusal of fares will cost ratepayers up to $515K, but hey, it will save each and every one of us between $2.56 and $28.
Council will again be increasing ferry services in an attempt to accommodate for the disruption.
Source: The Courier-Mail
Photo: Jonathan Wood / Getty.

 

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