Metro drivers ‘sick’ of hassle

HOBART bus drivers are “considering walking off the job” as safety issues and sickness cancels services, frustrates commuters and has the union calling for an urgent forum to fix a “death spiral”.

More than 45 Metro bus services were cancelled on Monday and Tuesday, with another 15 scrapped on Wednesday, with the transport company saying it was due to driver sickness.

But a former Metro bus driver told the Mercury the issues plaguing the state’s public transport system were bigger than a few sickies.

“It might be sickness but a lot of it is safety related,” the driver, with more than a decade experience, said.

“I heard two drivers were spat on on Monday … and was told that they’re all considering walking off the job.”

Rail, Tram and Bus Union secretary Ric Bean said Metro was in a “death spiral” that urgently needed fixing.

“The signs were there, they have been for more than 18 months,” Mr Bean said.

“We have been seeing ongoing issues with antisocial behaviour and employees leaving but Metro just put their heads deeper in the sand. They need more government support to enhance security for drivers and passengers who aren’t confident catching a bus.”

Metro CEO Katie Cooper apologised for “any inconvenience and difficulty caused by service disruptions”.

“Like many employers in the transport industry, Metro has had a shortage of bus operators, which has been exacer

bated this week due to sickness,” Ms Cooper said.

While she did not confirm details, Ms Cooper said they had “referred the recent instances of anti-social behaviour to Tasmania Police and were working closely with authorities to investigate the incidents and identify the offenders”.

“Metro takes very seriously any incident that subjects bus operators to aggressive and unacceptable behaviour,” she said.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said “there will be discussions” around Metro’s cancellation of services this week.

“We understand the need to get those services working as effectively as possible and we would love to see staff come back to work as soon as they are able to,” Mr Rockliff said.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor blamed the debacle on “the Rockliff government’s mismanagement of Covid”, again calling for the reinstatement of masks on public transport.

“Every Tasmanian business and family has been hit by Covid over summer under the force of the fourth Covid wave,” Ms O’Connor said.

“Government policy is forcing mass infection. This is now impacting on workers and the local economy.”

There is no current Public Health directive for people to wear masks.