Bus drivers win first step to a big win in legal case against private bus company, as Sydney farewells last remaining public bus service
Transit Systems has been fined more than $180K and the RTBU continues in the fight to force them to repay over $3.4million after it was found to have underpaid its workforce – a situation bus drivers say the NSW Government’s transport privatisation agenda is largely responsible for. Action was launched after the company first agreed to pay it after it was brought to their attention and then refused.
After losing in the federal court, Transit Systems is asking the Fair Work Commission to fix their screw up in a last-ditch effort to avoid paying what workers are rightfully owed. You can read the bulletin sent to members here.
Our legal win came as the keys to Sydney’s last remaining public bus service, Region 9, were handed over to a private company on Sunday.
Tram and Bus Division Secretary of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW, David Babineau, said while the legal win meant the union was closing in on back-pay for the hundreds of affected ex-STA bus drivers, the union anticipates it is simply the first of many cases it will be forced to run against private bus operators who choose to cut corners in order to save a buck.
“This is a classic example of what happens when private companies are allowed to take control of public services,” Mr Babineau said.
“These private bus companies, by definition, exist to turn a profit, not to provide commuters with the public transport system they deserve and clearly not to provide workers with the fair wages and conditions they deserve.
“The legal case against Transit Systems was a fantastic win, but it should never have got to this point. The NSW Government’s decision to privatise all of Sydney’s buses is what has allowed situations like this to occur. In this case, the company simply didn’t understand it’s obligations as an employer which is ridiculous for a multinational company.
“Bus drivers shouldn’t have to fight in court to get their fair pay, but unfortunately we’re only likely to see more of this now that the NSW Government has given our last remaining public bus services over to the private sector.
“The NSW Government’s obsession with privatising our public transport services not only robs commuters of the services they deserve, but it also robs workers of their right to fair wages and conditions.
“The Transport Minister at the time stood up and said that privatisating our buses would deliver a better service. We said at the time that was absolute rubbish, and time and again we’re being proven right. The decision to privatise our buses has come at the expense of Sydney’s commuters and bus drivers.
“Every single bus region in Sydney is now in the hands of private operators, which is an absolute disgrace and something the NSW Government should be held to account for.”