The RTBU and Metro Tasmania management have reached in-principle agreement on a new Enterprise Agreement for bus drivers.
As such, all Protected Industrial Action has been withdrawn, including all existing work bans and planned work stoppages.
RTBU Tasmania Secretary Byron Cubit today said bus drivers would now vote on whether to accept the proposed Enterprise Agreement.
“It’s been a long and difficult negotiation, but we now believe we have reached proposed Enterprise Agreement that is worthy of being put to bus drivers for their consideration.
“We set out to achieve three things with these negotiations: lock-in the 10% temporary pay rise provided in 2023, build on that with incremental pay rises over the next three years, and improve working conditions.
“The proposed Enterprise Agreement delivers on all three of those objectives.”
Cubit said bus drivers would receive a 3.5% pay rise per year for the next three years, on top of the 10% ‘temporary’ pay rise from 2023.
Bus Drivers would also have access to Critical Incident Leave – a first for the Australian bus industry.
Mr Cubit said other highlights of the proposed three-year Enterprise Agreement included a revised classification structure and backpay to 1 July 2024;
“We believe improved work conditions will help Metro Tasmania to recruit and retain staff.
“Ultimately, the RTBU wants Metro Tasmania to succeed, and to get back into a position where it can deliver more frequent and reliable services to the community.”
Mr Cubit said Metro Tasmania remained chronically under-funded by the State Government, and more government support was needed to make Metro Tasmanian financially sustainable.
“Despite the breakthrough in the Enterprise Agreement negotiations, we are disappointed that the State Government has not offered to put more funding into Metro Tasmania.
“Workers are deeply concerned that the Rockliff Government is being left to wither on the vine in order to justify a potential privatisation of the business.”
