Adelaide bus drivers reject pay deal
Bus commuters on some Adelaide routes are in for a free ride from Wednesday after drivers strongly rejected a revised pay deal today.
The Transport Workers’ Union said industrial action is now the only way to drive home serious safety concerns.
Southlink offered workers a 2.7 per cent pay rise and new conditions, but drivers rejected the offer.
“It was a unanimous vote pretty much 80 per cent to 20 per cent to say they’ve rejected their agreement,” Ian Gonsalves from the union said.
The action will affect two thirds of Adelaide’s bus network, with Transfield drivers also taking part.
It will cost the companies an estimated $100,000 a day in unpaid fares.
The union said about 200 drivers have been assaulted in the past six months, while others have been spat on and copped verbal abuse.
While commuters are not complaining about getting a free ride, the state government wants the issue resolved.
“It’s not in the interest of the company, it’s not in the interest of the workers, it’s not in the interest of the workers, it’s not in the interest of anybody that the dispute continues on,” Industrial Relations Minister John Rau said.
From Monday, passengers can also travel for free around North Adelaide when the city route is extended.
New buses will service commuters from Blair Athol to Blackwood and trams will be bumped up to every five minutes during peak times.
