Bus services across Victoria are set to be majorly disrupted this coming Wednesday May 28, with over 800 bus drivers at two of the state\u2019s biggest bus companies on strike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Co-ordinated by the Transport Workers\u2019 Union (TWU), the strike comes following stalled employee negotiations with Dyson Group and CDC Victoria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the TWU, both companies have refused decent improvements on rostering, safety and pay, with over 95 per cent of TWU members endorsing the strike when it went to a vote last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Together, the bus companies operate hundreds of bus routes and charter services and together, making up one third of all routes across the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The strike is expected to last a full 24 hours, beginning at 11:00am on Wednesday May 28.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The TWU says it is demanding a fair deal that recognises the critical role bus drivers play in keeping the community moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe current offers from CDC and Dyson fall short. Our members have been patient, but that patience has run out,\u201d TWU Victorian\/Tasmanian director of organising Sam Lynch says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s time for CDC and Dyson to stop dragging their feet and start listening to workers\u2019 calls for respect and a fair day\u2019s pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re standing together to lift the standard across Victoria\u2019s bus network and improve wages, conditions and safety for every driver.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commuters have been warned of major disruptions in Melbourne\u2019s north and west, as well as regional cities Ballarat, Mildura and Geelong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn 2022, more than 300 TWU bus drivers took protected strike action following Dyson\u2019s failure to move on workers\u2019 core demands, including safety and working conditions,\u201d a TWU Facebook post reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf management doesn\u2019t come to the table with a better offer, TWU Members will take action again!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In response, Dysons says the TWU\u2019s decision to initiate industrial action is \u201cdisappointing\u201d due to the impact it\u2019ll have on public transport passengers in Melbourne\u2019s northern corridor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDysons\u2019 proposal for a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EMA) in March will deliver significant wage and benefit outcomes for drivers \u2013 including a nine per cent year-one wage increase,\u201d Dysons says in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIndustrial action, if carried out, will cause unnecessary inconvenience to public transport bus passengers. As a family-owned business with over 73 years of delivering quality public transport and charter bus services, we\u2019re committed to maintaining a reliable, high-quality service for our passengers. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve been working constructively to finalise a new EBA as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDysons is working closely with the Department of Transport and Planning to minimise disruption to our passengers and valued customers, should this action proceed. Our intention is to operate to a modified timetable during the period of industrial action.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The operators says it has been negotiating \u201cin good faith\u201d with the TWU since January 2025 to reach a new EBA that benefits employees and the company. It says the TWU has \u201cconsistently rejected\u201d the alternative wages and conditions offer that Dysons has presented, with a vote on Friday May 9 revealing roughly 60 per cent of drivers didn\u2019t support the proposed EBA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSince the proposed EBA was voted down, we have received no counter offer from the union,\u201d Dysons says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDysons remains committed to reach agreement on a new EBA within our current budget and mitigate any further industrial action. We urge the TWU to resume negotiations.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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