The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) NSW branch is calling on the state government to widen the definition of essential workers to include employees in critical transport sectors such as buses.
In a submission to the parliamentary inquiry on Options for Essential Worker Housing in New South Wales, the TWU urged the NSW government to broaden its definition of essential workers to include those in critical transport sectors like buses, waste management and road freight.
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Under the governments current definition of essential worker, it is only employees from health, education, police, fire and rescue and justice that are included.
The TWU says that transport workers in the bus and coach industry are essential due to the role the sector plays in keeping the economy functioning each day.
With the state government’s recent budget including a $1000 cost of living payment to essential workers that left out transport employees, TWU NSW state secretary Richard Olsen says the lack of consideration for the sector is “disappointing”.
“Despite bus drivers being considered essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic for their fundamentally important role, they have since been dumped and are now among the lowest paid in the country.”
“Decisions made by the previous Liberal-National NSW Government have left these crucial industries in a ruined state where conditions have gone backwards, pay has stagnated and workers have been left to pick up the pieces.”
“We applaud the NSW Labor government’s effort in supporting essential workers following the pandemic, and call on them to broaden this out to transport workers across the state.”
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