Union gets behind bus drivers on school run
THE Transport Workers Union has thrown its support behind mistreated Townsville bus drivers in the wake of revelations a crisis meeting had been held.
The Bulletin revealed Sunbus drivers had gathered to voice their frustrations about rude, disruptive and sometimes violent schoolchildren making their job a living hell.
Drivers said they had little power to stop the students’ behaviour; one man lost his job last week for forcibly removing a student from a bus.
Transport Workers Union state secr e t a r y Peter Biagini said the State G o v e r n - ment had t a k e n steps to increase bus safety but ultimately it was up to individual bus companies.
“Ultimately, Sunbus needs to take responsibility to ensure that it’s workers are safe,” Mr Biagini said. “They have a duty of care to their drivers that needs to be fulfilled.
“Every single assault and issue needs to be documented and sent to the union and union delegates in the yard so that these problem areas can be targeted more efficiently and the company can be held to the highest standard of safety.”
Drivers had asked Sunbus to consider longer, more significant bans for problem passengers and even the introduction of security guards on school bus services.
The bus company did not address those ideas when questioned by the Bulletin.