Bus services in Launceston will be impacted this week as the union steps up industrial action over negotiations they say have reached a stalemate.
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Rail, Tram and Bus Union state secretary Ric Bean said the state-owned company had stopped bargaining in good faith and were refusing to budge on a proposed 2 per cent wage increase, flagging future action at other depots statewide.
"We felt we were turning up genuine savings for them to balance out a half decent increase," Mr Bean said. “It didn't seem to matter."
RTBU members will hold a four-hour stop work meeting on Thursday, affecting 144 services between 10am to 2pm and including a number scheduled to begin or conclude within that period.
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Mr Bean said the union was very conscious of the potential impact on the public and hoped they would understand the action was planned to minimise the effect on commuters and avoid impacting school routes altogether. "Bus operators haven't had a decent pay rise in some time and are just trying to keep up with inflation," he said.
“Basically we want Metro to return to the bargaining table in what we think is good faith, and if necessary the Minister to intervene to prevent further escalation."
The RTBU escalation comes amid ongoing industrial negotiations across the public sector.
Treasurer Peter Gutwein last week backed down on the government's 2 per cent wage cap, though unions indicated they were not yet willing to accept the new offers.
In a statement Tuesday morning, Metro chief executive Megan Morse said she was disappointed the union had chosen to take industrial action at the late stages of a bargaining process the company had approached in good faith.
"As a state-owned company, Metro’s pay offer is consistent with government policy," Ms Morse said. "Metro will be striving to minimise the impacts of this action for customers."
Ms Morse encouraged passengers to check the Metro website if they were planning to travel Thursday.
Infrastructure Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the government did not support industrial action that impacted Tasmanians and urged the union to call off the action and consider Metro's offer.
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Matt Dennien
Matt Dennien is a journalist at The Examiner, based in Launceston. Contact him via email at matt.dennien@examiner.com.au, or more securely via Signal on +61 437 672 994.
Matt Dennien is a journalist at The Examiner, based in Launceston. Contact him via email at matt.dennien@examiner.com.au, or more securely via Signal on +61 437 672 994.
