Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, territory bus drivers, they're set to ramp up industrial
action from today over industry standards and safety concerns. So
as of today, drivers are going to start wearing high
Vey's vests with campaign slogans and joining us on the
line to tell us more. Is Transport Workers Union NT
branch Secretary Sam Macintosh, Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Sam, morning Katie, thanks for having me on here.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Yeah, thanks so much for your time, Sam. What has
sparked the escalation in industrial action?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Well, as you're aware, Katie, we've been negotiating for some
time for a new enterprise agreement with bus operator in
the territory CDC, but we are not making the progress
that we need to make here. We've got a group
of drivers that do it difficult and a very very
dangerous job, and we need to make sure that they're
(00:56):
on industry standards when it comes to their paying conditions,
and right now they're frankly nowhere near it and that's
got to change.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
So talk me through. Firstly, what are the safety concerns
all members. I mean you and I have spoken before,
We've spoken at length about some of the assaults, some
of you know, the different poor behavior. I think you'd
say that our bus drivers are subjected to.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
We have, Katie. We've spoken quite often, haven't we about this,
And unfortunately it's a similar story I'm reporting today. We're
we are working constructively with the department and the government,
of course, and we're making strides. But you know, in
the last forty eight hours, I've spoken to a driver
(01:43):
who was under attack while driving a bus. Passengers trying
to get to him while he was in his driver cabin,
vandalizing the bus. Just a terrifying experience. We've got drivers assaulted,
verbally abused rockets while driving buses, and it doesn't matter
(02:04):
whether the bus is full or empty. But it's a
pretty it's a pretty terrifying prospect when you're driving along
along the streets performing a really important role for our community,
getting everyone from A to b, including people that are
very vulnerable, and you're in control and looking after a
(02:25):
busload of people and it's as we know, it's a
heavy vehicle and you're under attack from rocks. You're fearing
for your personal safety. But our drivers, gee, they do
a terrific job and they're really concerned about their passengers
as well.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Same with that incident that happened in the last forty
eight hours where they're trying to get him while he's
inside you know, the safety sort of cage or I
can't think of the right word. Where was that? What
happened there?
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Well, it's an instance, Katie, where a group have decided,
for whatever reason, that they want to have a crack
at a bus driver who's just doing their job. And
it happens way too often, as I've said, And what
happens is that the driver's getting abused and then attempts
(03:15):
are made to attack the driver physically, and the driver
and all of the passengers on board are put in
a really a terrible position because your top priority is safety,
of course, and it's just not good enough when someone
that's just going about their job, doing work, just wants
to get home to their family at the end of
(03:36):
the day, when their safety is compromised, it's not good enough.
And when we talk about bargaining for a new agreement,
it's context. This is a difficult and dangerous job, and
yet our drivers in the territory aren't even on minimum
industry standards. So I can give you an example if
you like to, like you know what I'm talking about.
(03:57):
For example, on a weekend. Most of your listiness will
be familiar with the idea that if you work on
a Saturday, you'd get one point five times pay on
a Sunday, double time, because we recognize you're away from
your family and friends working on a weekend. Currently, drives
in the territory get not those rates. One point three
(04:19):
four on a Saturday, one point seventy nine on a Sunday,
and the same ratios flow through to overtime and working
on public holidays. Our drivers in the territory don't currently
get annual leave loading. So these are the sorts of
conditions and industry standards that we're talking about. They're really important.
(04:40):
It's important when you're trying to attract and retain drivers.
But it all comes in the context of what is,
as I say, a very difficult, dangerous jobs. Our drivers,
as we all know, they're working hard and they do
such a good job, but it is trying and some
of the stories that you and I here it's not
(05:02):
good enough and we're not going to put up with it,
and we want to make sure that we're negotiating agreement
that reflects the work that our members do day in,
day out.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
So where too from here. I mean, when are you
back at the negotiating table and what exactly are you
going to be calling for?
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Well, we are, We're always at the negotiating table, Katie.
We're interested in doing a deal, reaching outcome that puts
our members in the position that they should be and
deserve to be in. As you said at the top,
we're ramping up our industrial action. From today, listeners will
see drivers in high view best, bright Orange Best. They'll
(05:40):
be very difficult to miss. It'll have a bit of
campaign slogan on it. And what we're trying to do
here is bring the community on the journey with us
and make sure everyone really understands exactly what we're talking
about here and what's at stake, because at the end
of the day, when you become a bus driver, you
do it because you want to support our community and
(06:00):
we want to continue to do that. But it's very difficult,
and so this campaign right now, the phase we're in,
is about showing the community exactly what we go through
day in day out and explaining our campaign. We've had
posters up in buses doing exactly that for the last
couple of weeks. But where we're heading, Katie, is if
(06:22):
we don't get a resolution here, we are going to
have to consider further industrial action, including strikes. It's always
a last resort. It's not what anyone wants to do.
But this is a critically important job.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
How soon could that happen, that strike action, if you
know there's not any movement, well.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
It could happen reasonably quickly. We always as a union,
we always work constructively on these matters and we try
to reach an outcome with the company that would put
us in the position when we've got those industry standards.
We recognize that taking that action is the last resort.
It's not what anyone wants to do. We want to
support our community. But that's why Katie, this action that
(07:07):
we're starting today with the high views vests, it's really
about raising the visibility and highlighting the campaign so that
we can ensure that our community knows this is exactly
what's going on, this is what we're fighting for, and
this is why it matters. And I'd just asked that
if anyone's catching a bus and you see one of
(07:28):
our members, a driver in a high views vest, say
today and let them know that you're backing them in
because I think what we're embarking on here is trying
to raise standards across the territory, not just for drivers,
but we're trying to create a better network for everyone
and that very much includes our community.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Well TWU NT Branch Secretary, Transport Workers Union Branch Secretary
for the Northern Territory, Sam McIntosh, thank you very much
for your time today and keep us up to date
with how things progress.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Thanks, Katie, appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Thank you
Well, territory bus drivers, they're set to ramp up industrial
action from today over industry standards and safety concerns. So
as of today, drivers are going to start wearing high
Vey's vests with campaign slogans and joining us on the
line to tell us more. Is Transport Workers Union NT
branch Secretary Sam Macintosh, Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Sam, morning Katie, thanks for having me on here.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Yeah, thanks so much for your time, Sam. What has
sparked the escalation in industrial action?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Well, as you're aware, Katie, we've been negotiating for some
time for a new enterprise agreement with bus operator in
the territory CDC, but we are not making the progress
that we need to make here. We've got a group
of drivers that do it difficult and a very very
dangerous job, and we need to make sure that they're
(00:56):
on industry standards when it comes to their paying conditions,
and right now they're frankly nowhere near it and that's
got to change.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
So talk me through. Firstly, what are the safety concerns
all members. I mean you and I have spoken before,
We've spoken at length about some of the assaults, some
of you know, the different poor behavior. I think you'd
say that our bus drivers are subjected to.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
We have, Katie. We've spoken quite often, haven't we about this,
And unfortunately it's a similar story I'm reporting today. We're
we are working constructively with the department and the government,
of course, and we're making strides. But you know, in
the last forty eight hours, I've spoken to a driver
(01:43):
who was under attack while driving a bus. Passengers trying
to get to him while he was in his driver cabin,
vandalizing the bus. Just a terrifying experience. We've got drivers assaulted,
verbally abused rockets while driving buses, and it doesn't matter
(02:04):
whether the bus is full or empty. But it's a
pretty it's a pretty terrifying prospect when you're driving along
along the streets performing a really important role for our community,
getting everyone from A to b, including people that are
very vulnerable, and you're in control and looking after a
(02:25):
busload of people and it's as we know, it's a
heavy vehicle and you're under attack from rocks. You're fearing
for your personal safety. But our drivers, gee, they do
a terrific job and they're really concerned about their passengers
as well.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Same with that incident that happened in the last forty
eight hours where they're trying to get him while he's
inside you know, the safety sort of cage or I
can't think of the right word. Where was that? What
happened there?
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Well, it's an instance, Katie, where a group have decided,
for whatever reason, that they want to have a crack
at a bus driver who's just doing their job. And
it happens way too often, as I've said, And what
happens is that the driver's getting abused and then attempts
(03:15):
are made to attack the driver physically, and the driver
and all of the passengers on board are put in
a really a terrible position because your top priority is safety,
of course, and it's just not good enough when someone
that's just going about their job, doing work, just wants
to get home to their family at the end of
(03:36):
the day, when their safety is compromised, it's not good enough.
And when we talk about bargaining for a new agreement,
it's context. This is a difficult and dangerous job, and
yet our drivers in the territory aren't even on minimum
industry standards. So I can give you an example if
you like to, like you know what I'm talking about.
(03:57):
For example, on a weekend. Most of your listiness will
be familiar with the idea that if you work on
a Saturday, you'd get one point five times pay on
a Sunday, double time, because we recognize you're away from
your family and friends working on a weekend. Currently, drives
in the territory get not those rates. One point three
(04:19):
four on a Saturday, one point seventy nine on a Sunday,
and the same ratios flow through to overtime and working
on public holidays. Our drivers in the territory don't currently
get annual leave loading. So these are the sorts of
conditions and industry standards that we're talking about. They're really important.
(04:40):
It's important when you're trying to attract and retain drivers.
But it all comes in the context of what is,
as I say, a very difficult, dangerous jobs. Our drivers,
as we all know, they're working hard and they do
such a good job, but it is trying and some
of the stories that you and I here it's not
(05:02):
good enough and we're not going to put up with it,
and we want to make sure that we're negotiating agreement
that reflects the work that our members do day in,
day out.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
So where too from here. I mean, when are you
back at the negotiating table and what exactly are you
going to be calling for?
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Well, we are, We're always at the negotiating table, Katie.
We're interested in doing a deal, reaching outcome that puts
our members in the position that they should be and
deserve to be in. As you said at the top,
we're ramping up our industrial action. From today, listeners will
see drivers in high view best, bright Orange Best. They'll
(05:40):
be very difficult to miss. It'll have a bit of
campaign slogan on it. And what we're trying to do
here is bring the community on the journey with us
and make sure everyone really understands exactly what we're talking
about here and what's at stake, because at the end
of the day, when you become a bus driver, you
do it because you want to support our community and
(06:00):
we want to continue to do that. But it's very difficult,
and so this campaign right now, the phase we're in,
is about showing the community exactly what we go through
day in day out and explaining our campaign. We've had
posters up in buses doing exactly that for the last
couple of weeks. But where we're heading, Katie, is if
(06:22):
we don't get a resolution here, we are going to
have to consider further industrial action, including strikes. It's always
a last resort. It's not what anyone wants to do.
But this is a critically important job.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
How soon could that happen, that strike action, if you
know there's not any movement, well.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
It could happen reasonably quickly. We always as a union,
we always work constructively on these matters and we try
to reach an outcome with the company that would put
us in the position when we've got those industry standards.
We recognize that taking that action is the last resort.
It's not what anyone wants to do. We want to
support our community. But that's why Katie, this action that
(07:07):
we're starting today with the high views vests, it's really
about raising the visibility and highlighting the campaign so that
we can ensure that our community knows this is exactly
what's going on, this is what we're fighting for, and
this is why it matters. And I'd just asked that
if anyone's catching a bus and you see one of
(07:28):
our members, a driver in a high views vest, say
today and let them know that you're backing them in
because I think what we're embarking on here is trying
to raise standards across the territory, not just for drivers,
but we're trying to create a better network for everyone
and that very much includes our community.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Well TWU NT Branch Secretary, Transport Workers Union Branch Secretary
for the Northern Territory, Sam McIntosh, thank you very much
for your time today and keep us up to date
with how things progress.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Thanks, Katie, appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Thank you
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