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Bus Express
Friday August 17, 2018
Dear members,
This week we've seen another Constance-fail where the Minister boasted that changes to Region 9 buses would create "100 additional driver jobs". This is just a complete lie and PR swing by an incompetent and selfish Minister.
The Minister is actually cutting bus services in the area, and swinging the numbers to make it look like a good thing for workers and commuters. When in reality, it's the complete opposite. Commuters have to now switch buses more often because of the service changes, and there will be no extra jobs created.
The Transport Minister likes to fudge the figures and make out that he’s increasing services, when in actual fact he’s making life more difficult for many commuters.
Every week this Minister continues to find new ways to make commuters' lives hell and erode the public transport industry, all for the sake of pursuing his anti-union and pro-privatisation agenda!
You can read our statement to media below.
In Solidarity,
Chris Preston and Dave Woollams
Check out the story in the Daily Telegraph here, note: there may be a Paywall. So here is a short preview:
"Bondi bus boost: 100 more drivers, extra 1100 services in revamp
BONDI’S crowded bus services will be significantly upgraded with the introduction of a new “turn up and go” system on one of the major routes, boosting services to every three minutes during peak.
Under the revamp, 26 long “bendy buses” will be pressed into service, and 100 more drivers added to create an extra 1100 services, Transport Minister Andrew Constance announced today." Read more here.
Media release: Service cuts and no new jobs: the reality of Constance’s Bondi bus announcement
Commuters from some of Sydney’s eastern suburbs will have their direct city services cut and face longer waits for services into the city under the Transport Minister’s new ‘Bondi bus’ plans.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) Bus Division Secretary, Chris Preston said the recent announcement of increased bendy bus 333 services to and from Bondi Beach failed to mention the myriad of services that are being cut or altered in order to provide for the changes to the 333 services.
“The Transport Minister is trying to make it sound like he’s improving services in the region nine area, but the reality is he’s robbing Peter to pay Paul,” Mr Preston said.
“This is a classic case of smoke and mirrors, and unfortunately what we’ve come to expect from the Transport Minister. The Transport Minister likes to fudge the figures and make out that he’s increasing services, when in actual fact he’s making life more difficult for many commuters.
“For example, under this new plan, someone travelling on the 380 from Watson’s Bay into the city each day will now have to change buses at Bondi Junction and some Tamarama residents will have their local service cut entirely.
“The Transport Minister also blatantly lied when he said the changes would result in 100 new bus driver jobs. Not one new job will be created as a result of this.
“We saw the Minister do exactly the same thing in Newcastle. He walked in and claimed that he was introducing 1200 new services in the region, but when the timetable come into effect commuters discovered their services had actually been cut. 20,000 commuters signed a petition complaining about the Newcastle timetable changes, and we’re no doubt seeing the same thing happen in Sydney’s region nine.
“Of course we all welcome increased and improved services for commuters, but not at the expense of existing services.
“NSW commuters deserve improved public transport services and they also deserve to be properly consulted on changes to their current services, not have inferior changes forced upon them by a Transport Minister more worried about PR spin than on delivering a quality transport service.”
Incase you missed it...Bussies for Bales!
Have you seen the great fundraiser that our members in Newcastle are getting involved in?
The Bussies for Bales fundraiser is an initiative started by a Newcastle bus driver, John Wagner to assist our drought affected farmers around the state. The donations will go towards purchasing bales of hay to feed the starving animals.
We encourage all members across the state to be a part of this great fundraising initiative “Bussies for Bales” and donate to our farmers in need.
The best way to donate is by clicking this unique link for the Bussies for Bales initiative which will track how much money we raise! https://goo.gl/YB6Xg9?62562
