Transport Minister Chris Steel: a new weekend timetable will begin in April. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
The long-running sore of unreliable weekend bus services could be a step closer to being fixed after drivers accepted a new work deal with the ACT Government.
The government says the new enterprise bargaining agreement with Transport Canberra drivers and workshop staff will pave the way for an increase in the frequency of scheduled Saturday afternoon bus services, planned to start in April.
Staff have agreed to new incentives for permanent bus drivers working weekend shifts, and a new clause in the agreement for a Weekend Reliability Trial also commits to further exploration of rosters during the term of the agreement.
Transport Minister Chris Steel said the trial gave permanent drivers, who completed six or more weekend details a year, a 15 per cent penalty on all hours from the seventh detail, starting on 1 July.
The Transport Workers Union rejected as tokenistic a similar deal last May aimed at boosting weekend services, but the key this time appears to be a lift in the number of drivers.
Mr Steel said extensive recruitment meant bus drivers were now above establishment numbers.
“Combined with the new incentives in the agreement, we now have confidence that more weekend services on Saturdays can be delivered reliably,” he said.
Mr Steel said Canberrans had significantly increased their use of weekend public transport services.
Transport Canberra would now prepare a new weekend timetable to begin in April, focusing on more frequent route bus services on Saturday afternoons to meet the demand.
The new agreement also includes incentives to recognise the skill of staff who are transitioning to work on the zero-emissions fleet.
A new Electric Vehicle Technology Allowance has been added for maintenance staff in recognition of active participation in training and instruction to attain the skills to safely integrate, operate, and maintain electric fleet vehicles.
Sixty-seven per cent of eligible staff voted on the new agreement, with a 95 per cent vote in favour.
The agreement has been lodged for formal ratification by Fair Work Australia.
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