NSW: Bus drivers return to work after snap strike

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2009
NSW: Bus drivers return to work after snap strike

SYDNEY, Aug 24 AAP - Bus drivers in western Sydney have returned to work six hours
after a snap strike over timetable changes left commuters and school children stranded.

About 130 Busways drivers at the private company's Blacktown depot called the strike
on Monday morning, forcing management to cancel all services to the Blacktown, Mount Druitt
and Rouse Hills areas.

The frustrated drivers said they walked off the job after Busways management failed
to address concerns about the new timetable, to be introduced in the next six weeks.

Drivers believed running times were too tight and would affect turnaround times and
connections with other routes, Transport Workers Union official Darcy Waller said.

"The drivers took the industrial action this morning after a long period of negotiations
had broken down," he said.

About six hours after the drivers walked off the job, all services resumed at 9.40am
(AEST) following discussions between management and the union, Busways said.

A spokeswoman declined to comment on the outcome of the talks.

Mr Waller said a company boss had visited the depot and assured drivers that negotiations
would continue.

An industrial relations hearing had been scheduled for midday (AEST), he said.

"We got what we wanted out of it," he told AAP.

"We want to make sure channels of communication remain open."

The company issued an apology to passengers who were inconvenienced by the service disruptions.

AAP bs/evt/cdh

KEYWORD: BUS UPDATE

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