‘Significant impacts’: bus drivers and cleaners call 24-hour strike

GOLD Coast bus drivers and cleaners will go on strike for 24 hours for the second time within a month as they call for immediate pay increases.

Transport Worker’s Union members and bus drivers have planned a protected industrial action for Tuesday, January 31.

South East Queensland Kinetic General Manager James Saltmer said there would be significant impacts for the Gold Coast and Tweed communities from 12.05am on January 31 to 12.05am on February 1.

“We will endeavour to run as many school buses as possible to ensure student safety,” he said.

Mr Saltmer said they had met with the Transport Worker’s Union twice to try and reach an agreement.

He said in an effort to avoid the strike, Kinetic offered the Transport Worker’s Union and drivers an immediate pay increase of 8.2 per cent, which they would date back to October 2022.

The pay increase would bring fulltime driver rates above $30 per hour.

He said there would be another pay increase of four per cent from October 2023.

“This offer is above wage rate increases called for by the Transport Worker’s Union during industrial action taken on December 20, 2022,” Mr Saltmer said.

“We highly value our team and believe this pay increase reflects current cost-of-living pressures while ensuring operational viability during uncertain economic times.”

He said, while Kinetic respected the rights of their team members, they were “disappointed” it would affect the community.

“Kinetic apologies sincerely to our passengers for the substantial impact this will have on Gold Coast commuters,” Mr Saltmer said.

“It is disappointing this will occur prior to all team members having the opportunity to vote on Kinetic’s revised financial offer.”

Kinetic advised all passengers to find alternative transport where possible and to be patient with the team who were working on the day.

He said they would continue to urgently try and find a new agreement with their drivers and team members.

This industrial action comes only a month after drivers and cleaners went on a six-hour strike, affecting hundreds of Gold Coasters.