School bus drivers in Queensland are set to benefit from a wage boost as part of the QLD government’s plan to improve conditions and attract more drivers.
Ensuring that school bus driver wages maintain relativity in pay rates with urban bus drivers, the investment is aimed at easing the cost-of-living pressures school bus drivers face.
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Under the expanded package, delivery partners contracted by Translink will be eligible for funding to support a wage increase to school bus drivers to $29.62 per hour on 30 September 2024 and a subsequent increase to $31.17 per hour (ordinary hourly rate) on July 1 2025.
Drivers may also receive casual and other loadings that boost this rate, if eligible.
“We recognise the important work school bus drivers do every day in connecting students to education,” transport minister Bart Mellish says.
“Improving wages for school bus drivers is a reflection of our unwavering commitment to supporting jobs, easing cost-of-living pressures, and creating better public transport connections for communities in Queensland.
“Delivering wage increases to our school bus drivers will help retain the outstanding school bus drivers we have already while helping to attract additional skilled professionals to the industry.
“More school bus drivers with better conditions will ultimately lead to better public transport services provided to our kids.”
The wage uplift for school bus drivers follows the Queensland Government’s investment in boosting wages for South East Queensland and Regional Urban bus drivers.
Translink will continue to work with its individual delivery partners to distribute funding for the state’s school bus drivers.
“The Transport Workers’ Union is proud to support today’s announcement for our hardworking school bus drivers,” TWU director of organising Josh Millroy says.
“This wages boost for our school bus drivers reflects the critical work these drivers do.
“This comes on the back of the previous wage adjustment won in 2023 by bus drivers and TWU members across Queensland.
“It’s critical now that bus operators get on board and pass on this pay increase to these workers and their families, who are feeling the pressures of the rising cost of living.”
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