Union bus drivers are ramping up their industrial action, refusing to take fares from passengers across the city for 48 hours.
More than 500 bus drivers and cleaners across the Gold Coast, Logan and Sunshine Coast are taking part in the strike action today, as they continue to protest what they’ve described as low wages, driver shortages and a lack of investment in public transport.
“Bus drivers work hard performing a critical role in keeping our communities connected. It’s only fair and long overdue that their wages reflect this,” TWU QLD Director of Organising Jared Abbott said.
“Bus drivers work unsociable hours to keep up with public transport demands. It’s time for the State Government to step up and make a real investment in our public transport.”
It comes after Kinetic bus drivers walked off the job completely for 24 hours last week, causing havoc for commuters, with hundreds of services either cancelled or delayed.
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“Delays and cancellations caused by driver shortages are impacting the public right now. We can begin to fix this problem by investing in raising bus drivers’ pay to the level where it needs to be,” Mr Abbott said.
“If we’re going to ensure that we have a safe and sustainable public transport network going into the future, we need to be investing in the wages of our bus drivers.”
