Sydney commuters warned of major disruptions to buses on Friday

Commuters in large parts of Sydney have been warned of the risk of major disruptions to bus services on Friday from drivers taking two hour-long work stoppages as part of industrial action.

In a significant escalation in the pay dispute, the Rail Tram and Bus Union, which represents about 2000 drivers, has notified authorities that members will stop work from 6.30am to 7.30am, and between 5pm and 6pm on Friday.

The stoppages during peak periods on Friday threaten to cause major delays and cancellations on routes across Sydney’s eastern suburbs, northern beaches, lower north shore and inner north-west.

The disruption is likely to be worst on the northern beaches given commuters do not have access to a train line like other parts of the city. It will also place extra pressure on the city’s road network as people choose to drive.

Transport for NSW secretary Josh Murray said passengers should prepare for “significant disruption” across both the morning and afternoon peaks on Friday if the industrial action goes ahead.

He warned disruption may continue after each stoppage ends as operators work to restore scheduled services. “It will take time to get buses and drivers back into position and return services to their normal timetable,” he said.

Negotiations between the union and three private bus operators are continuing in a bid to avert the proposed industrial action.

In an attempt to minimise disruption if the stoppages proceed, driverless trains on the M1 metro rail line will run at four-minute frequencies an hour earlier on Friday. Higher frequency services usually start at 7am on weekdays.

Unions have been locked in a long-running dispute with private bus operators Keolis, Transdev John Holland and Busways over a new pay deal covering what are known as regions seven, eight and nine.

Last week, drivers began refusing to drive buses showing warning lights on dashboards, as well as any bus that did not have full fuel tanks or fully charged batteries.

Drivers are seeking a pay rise of about 22 per cent over three years without changes to conditions. Unions said the base wage for a driver in Sydney was about $67,000 a year.

The NSW government committed $200 million in July to support higher wages for more than 8000 bus drivers who are paid an average $33 an hour.

Rail Tram and Bus Union divisional president Peter Grech said the main sticking points were over what he described as attempts by the private operators to increase part-time and casual workers.

“We have been negotiating for a long period of time, and we need to get a deal. Our members are getting impatient with us. Hence, that is why we are taking that action,” he said.

Grech said further negotiations with operators were being held on Wednesday, and the union was due to meet with Transport Minister John Graham on Thursday. “We are hoping for an outcome. We are not a long way off, but we still have some issues to tidy up,” he said.

“It is now up to the operators and the government.”

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