Bus and Tram Express
Bus and Tram Express

Bus driver’s dismissal over mobile phone use found to be wrong

Mar 20, 2020Uncategorized

The NSW STA has been told they were wrong for sacking a bus driver who made a couple of calls in his parked bus with the doors open and brakes on.

The bus driver of 12 years was only cancelling a doctor’s appointment having agreed to do a last-minute unscheduled shift. He had the doors open and one foot outside of the driver’s space – a deliberate move as the open doors initiate the secondary brakes.

The NSW Industrial Relations Commission found that though he had breached regulations, the punishment was extreme and he didn’t deserve to be sacked. He had not put passengers in danger and was a well commended veteran driver who had shown remorse for his actions.

“We are very pleased with the decision and are glad that the Commission is seeing that there is a scale of severity when talking about offences,” said RTBU NSW Tram and Bus Division Secretary David Babineau.

“Although we don’t condone phone usage, employers need to be fair when they dismiss someone. You can’t just wipe a 12 year good record over a single offence.”

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