CDC bus drivers to vote
THE average CDC Victoria bus driver stands to gain more than $8500 during the next three years if employees vote to approve a revised pay offer put to them last week.
Following recent strikes, drivers have been offered a 4 per cent annual increase over three years and a one-off $1800 superannuation payment.
As part of the revised pay offer, CDC drivers will also be back-paid to July.
Last week Treasurer Tim Pallas and Transport Minister Jacinta Allen met TWU branch secretary John Berger to broker an end to the pay dispute.
The State Government later met with CDC Victoria and a revised offer was put to its staff which will be voted on in coming weeks.
Drivers who work on the 10 CDC routes in Geelong have told the Geelong Advertiser they supported the new offer.
TWU Victorian Secretary John Berger said the revised offer met the union’s claims.
“Our members were lowballed by the operators in the original offers they made to the drivers and the drivers decided they would fight for a decent increase,” Mr Berger said.
“These members are hardworking members of the community and have mouths to feed and bills to pay and could not see any future benefit in what was originally on the table.
“The win is the result of a long campaign where our members stayed strong and united and proves to all Australian workers what can be achieved when workers stick together.”
CDC Victoria bus drivers walked off the job three times in recent weeks to protest against the company’s initial offer of a three-year average wage and superannuation increase of 2.66 per cent.