Metro Tasmania has stopped bus drivers from driving today due to an ongoing pay dispute
April
3, 2013
Metro Tasmania bus services are not running today due to an ongoing pay dispute with drivers.
Metro announced late last week it would cancel all services today due to Rail Tram and Bus Union (RBTU) plans to hold two stop work meetings.
Metro confirmed the driver lockout today on Twitter.
“No Metro services will operate today due to industrial action by bus drivers,” Metro tweets.
Services will also be disrupted tomorrow until about 9.45am.
About 2,000 services will be cancelled in total over the two days.
The services were cancelled to mitigate passenger confusion caused by industrial action and service uncertainty, according to Metro.
But the move has attracted broad criticism, including disapproval from Tasmanian Economic Development Minister David O’Byrne.
Metro wrote to all drivers last week detailing changes to the proposed new Enterprise Agreement and wage increase offer.
Metro increased its pay offer of 2.1 percent with the proposed offsets for opening up urban satellite yards and extending some drivers’ duties to five hours and 30 minutes with two 15 breaks.
The RBTU has been pushing for a 3 percent wage rise per year for about three years.