Metro bus drivers will cast votes today that could end a drawn-out industrial dispute
April 19, 2013
Metro Tasmania bus drivers will cast votes today that could end a drawn-out industrial dispute.
Metro and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RBTU) came to a pay agreement last week.
Metro’s board has approved the Enterprise Agreement, but drivers will have the final say with a vote today.
Under the proposed agreement, the wage structure for bus drivers will be compressed, meaning that it will take a driver three years and the attainment of Certificate 3 in Transport and Logistics to reach the top level (Level 5).
According to Metro, this previously took 10 years.
Wages for drivers who have worked for Metro for less than nine years will receive a
two percent increase per year for the next three years.
Wages for drivers with more than nine years’ experience will receive a 2.5 percent increase per
year and will be moved into a new level, known as 5E. No other drivers will have access to this level, according to Metro.
The increase for the third year will be
in line with
CPI for Hobart if it has exceeded
two percent for the 12 months ending December 31, 2014.
The RBTU had been pushing for a
three percent wage rise per year over three years.
As part of the new agreement, Metro also plans to open up satellite yards in Hobart for longer and on weekends, and limit the number of shifts that are five hours 30 minutes with two 15 minute paid breaks.
The RTBU agreed to actively participate in the project to improve the culture at Metro.