UPDATE 1pm: Transport Canberra announced that bus services will be offline for the rest of the day, but are expected to return to normal tomorrow, Saturday 16 November.
Transport Canberra released the following statement:
“Transport Canberra’s bus services will remain off the road for the remainder of the day due to unprotected industrial action by drivers. Bus services are expected to return to normal from tomorrow, Saturday 16 November 2024. Transport Canberra’s light rail and special needs transport service both continue to run as normal today. Transport Canberra acknowledges the inconvenience felt by many in the community today. Discussions are continuing with the Transport Workers Union and with our workforce in relation to measures to reduce the impact of occupational violence on drivers. Transport Canberra urges the community to be respectful of our drivers.”
EARLIER: There will be no general bus services in Canberra today, Friday 15 November, as hundreds of bus drivers walked off the job in response to rising violence and a lack of response from the ACT Government.
The breaking point for drivers was an alleged incident last night, Thursday 14 November, where a group of young passengers poured a bag of fish heads over a driver.
Light rail services will operate as per usual, and so will special needs buses, including school buses.
Transport Canberra released the following statement:
“Buses will be off the road this morning, Friday 15 November 2024, due to unprotected industrial action from drivers. It is likely the industrial action will continue through the day. Transport Canberra is in urgent talks with the Transport Workers Union. Light rail services remain unaffected. The special needs bus service also remains unaffected. Transport Canberra sincerely apologises for the inconvenience and will provide more detail through the day.”
On ABC Radio this morning, ACT Transport Workers Union boss Klaus Pinkas said not enough is being done to address the violence towards bus drivers in Canberra.
“We are screaming for help from Transport Canberra for assaults on our drivers,” said Pinkas.
“There has been no reaction from people in Transport Canberra.
“We’ve had 500 meetings, I’ve sent hundreds of cranky emails, but we have had no response whatsoever.
“It can’t continue how it has been continuing.”
More than 40 assaults on drivers are reported each month, with workers detailing abuse ranging from having bags of rotten fish dumped on them, full cans of soda thrown at their heads, physical violence, being spat on and verbal abuse.
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) says the ACT Government has failed to provide workers with certainty on when increased transit police patrols, better driver security screens, de-escalation training and giving drivers the ability to refuse service to abusive passengers would be implemented.
The TWU NSW/ACT State Secretary Richard Olsen said it is unacceptable the government continues to sit on their hands while drivers are being abused.
“These safety measures were approved, so why the delay? Our drivers deserve to know,” said Olsen.
“Canberra drivers face daily threats to their safety—more than 40 assaults a month are not just statistics; they’re lives impacted by a toxic, dangerous work environment. The ACT Government and Transport Canberra need to wake up to this crisis and act now before it gets worse.
“The voices of workers can’t be ignored any longer. We need transit police on buses, secure screens, and the tools for drivers to protect themselves, and we need them now. Every delay puts drivers and passengers at further risk.”
