News: Sydney regions with most bus cancellations revealed
Bus journeys cancelled due to driver shortages are in excess of 1200 trips daily across just four privatised Sydney regions on an average weekday in July, union figures supplied to the Herald reveal.
Bus union divisional secretary David Babineau said privatisation and the withdrawal of free travel for bus drivers had also contributed to the staff shortage.
“We didn’t want privatisation but it has happened and we are doing our best to look after people through that process,” Babineau said. “Transport for NSW are sitting back and completely ignoring the situation they have created.
“Transport NSW has a duty of care to make sure the service is being delivered and is fining the hell out of the companies that aren’t meeting the KPIs of the contract. This is about buses not turning up and people not getting where they want. We need to help these companies make driving a bus more attractive.”