Another huge couple weeks have passed in your Union’s fight to stop the privatisation of the remaining government run bus services in NSW - and we've got another busy few weeks ahead. 

Here's an overview of how things are shaping up. A big thank you to all the members who are getting active as part of the campaign.   

Save the date: December 2nd rally 

Put this one in your diary - there will be a major rally against bus privatisation in Martin Place at noon on Monday the 2nd of December.

It has to be a weekday so we can be heard by those politicians upstairs. We need to pull out all the stops for this one and make it as big as possible. Allies from the other Unions as well political parties are mobilising so we can make our voices as loud as possible.

We want as many people there as possible, so if you can make it - bring your family and friends too! You can RSVP here. 

Depot meetings 

We kicked things off with depot meetings held at Brookvale and Mona Vale on Tuesday followed by meetings at Ryde (Wednesday 13th Nov) and Willoughby (Thursday 14th Nov). These meetings were attended by RTBU, ASU, AMWU and ETU members. This was a show by all unions of their commitment to stop the attack from the government on our wages and conditions.

At the meetings members were brought up to speed on what was required for us to be successful in reversing the government’s decision to outsource the buses. Part of the strategy is informing the public that this is actually happening and building momentum from there. People care about their buses but they have to know that the Government is giving them away!

Street stalls 

One way to achieve this is by engaging with members of the public via street stalls at prominent locations, where conversations can be held and get through the message to the public that we are having this fight for them.  The petitions they sign are vitally important as part of this engagement process. It tells us that they support us in having the fight for them, and builds a contactable supporter base for things like rallies.

Two street stalls were held last week, one at the main bus stop at Top Ryde and the other at Belmore Rd, Randwick. Labor leader Jodi McKay joined members at Top Ryde talking to the public and gathering signatures.

It was clear from the number of signatures we received from these two locations within the short time we were there that the public is interested in making change once they know about it.

Mona Vale rally 

A public community rally was held at the Village Park in Mona Vale last Saturday with about 200 people attending. Speakers included Union officials from the RTBU, AMWU, Unions NSW, a commuter representative, the Northern Beaches Greens convenor Miranda Korzy and the shadow Transport Minister and Labor MP for Kogarah Chris Minns.

Brad Hazzard hears from members

Not to be outdone before the Mona Vale rally, during the week intrepid Brookvale drivers camped outside of local Liberal MP Brad Hazzard’s office in the middle of the day and let the passing motorists know exactly where the blame lies for what’s being planned for Sydney’s public bus services.

The petition count grows

Mona Vale and Randwick are currently leading the petition count with over 5000 in total between them out of a total of over 8000! If you think privatisation is a done deal then think again. It’s only going to go through if we roll over and let it!

After the rally at Mona Vale, a stall was held at Avalon Markets which gathered around 1000 signatures! Monday saw more action from Mona Vale with members down at the bottom of Spit Hill sending a message to passing motorists and commuters alike about the threat to their services. There was also a Bus Stop Blitz that day with members from Ryde and the general public handing out flyers and gathering signatures. Tuesday of this week saw Mona Vale members active once again hitting the main stop at Dee Why with RTBU officials.

Next steps 

A meeting was held with delegates from all affected Unions today at Unions NSW, where the next stage of the campaign was discussed. New material will be available from the week after next, which we will be running with until the end of December. There’s new flyers banners and stickers all coming your way!

Remember this is YOUR fight and through all the depot meetings it has been made clear you want to have this fight. Here is a list of things we ALL can do to assist in the campaign:

• Return completed petition forms back to your delegate (these need to be back by the end of next week!)
• If you haven't already, sign the online petition at https://ourtransport.org.au/take-action/ and ask your friends and family to do the same
• Join the Keep Buses Public Facebook page www.facebook.com/groups/keepbusespublic
• Approach your local delegate and volunteer even 30 mins of your time to either hand out flyers, place flyers in letterboxes or attend a street stall being organised by your local delegate
• Attend rallies outside the local MP’s offices(see your local delegate for when these will occur)
• Participate in wobble boarding on the main corridors (waving a sign at traffic is easy as)
• Attend public community rallies within your depot regions

Street stalls and other events will be held over the next few weeks within the 3 regions. Please see your local delegate for the times and locations for these events.

A further update will be given next Friday. Till then take care and pitch in wherever you can, it’s your fight and it’s going nowhere without you!