Why bother running buses at all? ACTION reveals Easter services

My brother is a Bus Driver with ACTION with a young family – He generally Drives most public holidays – This year he decided that Spending some time with his young family was more important than Overtime money – I am a car owner but I admit I was glad to be able to spend time with my brother and his family – For once on a Public holiday!!

I suggest that some people need to think of the drivers and the need to spend time with their families at this time of year.

Ahhh….Buzz…..why not give bus driving a go yourself….and realise just how great it is mixing from all walks of life from some ignorant, rude, naval gazing, patronising public servants to some druggies, alcoholics, people with mental health issues,the disabled, school kids, teenagers, all treated fairly and safely delivered to their destinations by a bus driver treated on many occasions like %$#@ during their careers.

Sure, there are some lovely commuters both regularly and one offs, however what these guys, and for many years, it has been primarily male bus drivers employed by Action, have suffered from the public deserves the utmost respect, acknowledgement and thanks from Canberra residents.

What the public (parents in particular) forget is that these drivers have safely delivered your kids to school and home daily throughout their education and often ‘listen’ to your kids woes cheering them up.

For the knockers it is sheer insecurity and jealousy.

Do yourselves a favour – go and do some training, acquire your MR and HC licences – get out into the real world mixing and assisting the most unfortunate members of society.

Happy Easter!

Regarding composite rates and weekend work for drivers:
From what I have been told, Action management approached the TWU about bringing in compulsory weekend work. Since the current arrangement, with a composite rate, allows drivers the freedom to pick and choose which ones they want to work, it would require a complete change of the system.
A penalty rate would have to be applied as you are effectively telling people which weekends they are working so changing what they call “ordinary work hours”.
Secondly, they would have to include leave and superannuation entitlements as under the current EBA, weekends are classed as overtime and are not given.
They would also need to incorporate a 6 or 7 day network with a 6 or 7 day roster for drivers to make it work.
Action management were advised about all of this. They were also told that the TWU and drivers were open to any negotiations regarding this matter and that they should come back with shifts and proposals for their perusal so talks could begin.
They never came back.

Yes, that’s quite correct. It was a decision by Action Management and the minister to run Public Holiday services on Easter Saturday. The reason being because they got away with it last year when the mechanics went on strike and nobody made any official complaints. Hence, money saved by not running longer services.
Perhaps, instead of writing about it on here, vent your frustrations in an official capacity to the ACT Government. If you don’t, they’ll do it over and over again just because they think no one is bothered…

Saturday IS a public holiday; Sunday is NOT. That’s how it is and how it always has been. It used to be that ACTION would run a Saturday timetable on Easter Saturday despite it being a Public Holiday, now that is not the case.

From what I’ve heard, it is was the decision of ACTION Management (and/or the Minister) to run the Public Holiday timetable on Easter Saturday. In previous years they have always had enough drivers for the Saturday and there is no reason to believe this would not have been the case this year.

Bussie said :

It was well before I started with ACTION but I’ve heard from several old hands that the introduction of the composite rate of pay and the removal of compulsory weekend work were done several years apart. Both things agreed to by manangement so don’t try and blame the union/drivers for the s***ty weekend buses. If they could force us to work weekends they would but they can’t and don’t and we won’t let them until they offer us something in return so you can whine on the internet all you like.

Yeah, some people whine on the internet anonymously, others get involved and try to effect change in their community. Guess which one I am.

Bussie said :

damien haas said :

Your union accepted a composite rate in a previous agreement. That composite rate covers out of hours work. If you dont want to work weekends, why not roll back the agreement to a non-composite rate and ask for penaty rates outside 9-5 ? I bet you would find the weekend services were suddenly able to be staffed.

Its a massive con by the TWU. They got the payrise by gaining a composite rate, in the EBA yet dont actually want to do the work agreed to. It is no way an act of good faith and smells badly.

If the government had any backbone they would have let the agreement expire, and have you work at award rates. Which would see you get what you want – MO MONEY for working weekends.

It was well before I started with ACTION but I’ve heard from several old hands that the introduction of the composite rate of pay and the removal of compulsory weekend work were done several years apart. Both things agreed to by manangement so don’t try and blame the union/drivers for the s***ty weekend buses. If they could force us to work weekends they would but they can’t and don’t and we won’t let them until they offer us something in return so you can whine on the internet all you like.

Ahh bus drivers… They should start getting paid by how many people they transport throughout the day, like a Taxi driver, imagine how good the service would be then.

Frustrated said :

davo101 said :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_shopping

So what you are saying now is that Sunday is not a public holiday?

davo101 said :

Frustrated said :

Easter Sunday is most definitely a public holiday, I have not seen any change to this.

Really? To quote Wikipedia {{Citation needed|reason=This claim needs a reliable source; Easter Sunday is not mentioned in the Holidays Act 1958.}}

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_shopping

johnboy said :

Bussie said :

It was well before I started with ACTION but I’ve heard from several old hands that the introduction of the composite rate of pay and the removal of compulsory weekend work were done several years apart. Both things agreed to by manangement so don’t try and blame the union/drivers for the s***ty weekend buses. If they could force us to work weekends they would but they can’t and don’t and we won’t let them until they offer us something in return so you can whine on the internet all you like.

And that my friends is the rancid smell of a failed service provider.

+1

Bussie said :

It was well before I started with ACTION but I’ve heard from several old hands that the introduction of the composite rate of pay and the removal of compulsory weekend work were done several years apart. Both things agreed to by manangement so don’t try and blame the union/drivers for the s***ty weekend buses. If they could force us to work weekends they would but they can’t and don’t and we won’t let them until they offer us something in return so you can whine on the internet all you like.

And that my friends is the rancid smell of a failed service provider.

Frustrated said :

Easter Sunday is most definitely a public holiday, I have not seen any change to this.

Really? To quote Wikipedia {{Citation needed|reason=This claim needs a reliable source; Easter Sunday is not mentioned in the Holidays Act 1958.}}

damien haas said :

Your union accepted a composite rate in a previous agreement. That composite rate covers out of hours work. If you dont want to work weekends, why not roll back the agreement to a non-composite rate and ask for penaty rates outside 9-5 ? I bet you would find the weekend services were suddenly able to be staffed.

Its a massive con by the TWU. They got the payrise by gaining a composite rate, in the EBA yet dont actually want to do the work agreed to. It is no way an act of good faith and smells badly.

If the government had any backbone they would have let the agreement expire, and have you work at award rates. Which would see you get what you want – MO MONEY for working weekends.

It was well before I started with ACTION but I’ve heard from several old hands that the introduction of the composite rate of pay and the removal of compulsory weekend work were done several years apart. Both things agreed to by manangement so don’t try and blame the union/drivers for the s***ty weekend buses. If they could force us to work weekends they would but they can’t and don’t and we won’t let them until they offer us something in return so you can whine on the internet all you like.

lindilou said :

jk_142 said :

Saturday is a public holiday. It costs more.

Actually Saturday and Sunday are not public holidays. So pay stays at the normal Saturday and Sunday rates.

Easter Sunday is most definately a public holiday, I have not seen any change to this.

This is the traditional day of the easter eggs etc and supposed to be Jesus resurrection day isn’t it?

davo101 said :

poetix said :

God may well be everywhere, but holy communion on your own is a bit unsatisfactory.

Have you tried Protestantism? It’s just you and God, no need to go through an intermediary.

Anglicanism: a bit of this and a bit of that since 1534.

poetix said :

Let’s not forget that this is Easter, and a lot of people, even those who don’t drive (and/or have limited personal mobility) might want to attend special church services. For example, 6am vigils on Sunday. By my cursory reading of the timetables, it would be impossible to catch a bus to St Philip’s in O’Connor or St John’s in Reid, for example, for early services, and difficult for later ones. It is no more outrageous to expect that buses be available for Easter services than for a secular festival. (One bus could cover many churches, too.) And the ability to get to church at Easter is of great significance to many people.

I would have thought that a group of like-minded holy people going to designated spots at designated times would be able to organise car pooling/pick-up/drop-off among themselves. Seems like government is at once inept and then also expected to deliver things that individuals and communities can do for themselves. Keeping in mind that churches are exempt from paying for it.

Actually it seems that Saturday is a public holiday and Sunday is not. According to the Chief Minister’s website below:

http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/communication/holidays

I always thought it was the other way round. Go figure

poetix said :

God may well be everywhere, but holy communion on your own is a bit unsatisfactory.

Have you tried Protestantism? It’s just you and God, no need to go through an intermediary.

c_c said :

poetix said :

Let’s not forget that this is Easter, and a lot of people, even those who don’t drive (and/or have limited personal mobility) might want to attend special church services.

Ah, but ACTION knows that god is everywhere.

God may well be everywhere, but holy communion on your own is a bit unsatisfactory.

poetix said :

Let’s not forget that this is Easter, and a lot of people, even those who don’t drive (and/or have limited personal mobility) might want to attend special church services.

Ah, but ACTION knows that god is everywhere.

Let’s not forget that this is Easter, and a lot of people, even those who don’t drive (and/or have limited personal mobility) might want to attend special church services. For example, 6am vigils on Sunday. By my cursory reading of the timetables, it would be impossible to catch a bus to St Philip’s in O’Connor or St John’s in Reid, for example, for early services, and difficult for later ones. It is no more outrageous to expect that buses be available for Easter services than for a secular festival. (One bus could cover many churches, too.) And the ability to get to church at Easter is of great significance to many people.

jk_142 said :

Saturday is a public holiday. It costs more.

Actually Saturday and Sunday are not public holidays. So pay stays at the normal Saturday and Sunday rates.

This will be disappointing to visitors to the National Folk Festival who naively expect buses to come on Saturday night when the time table at the Festival bus stop says they will.

This will also be disappointing because this year the National Folk Festival is not running shuttle buses at night to cover the now every night when Action is not running buses.

I suppose this is a good opportunity for Canberra to show off its culture.

Bussie said :

grump said :

this is a case where unlike the banks, the gubment/ACTION should argue for the weekend to be no different or at least remove the option that drivers currently apparently have to opt in or out of weekend rosters. No wonder the bus system is crap of a weekend or holiday when drivers can decide whether or not they work (not arguing for removal of penalty rates btw) – don’t want to work the weekend, then

We don’t get any penalty rates for working weekends. Last EBA management wanted to bring in compulsory weekend work with nothing in return. We unsurprisingly didn’t agree.

Your union accepted a composite rate in a previous agreement. That composite rate covers out of hours work. If you dont want to work weekends, why not roll back the agreement to a non-composite rate and ask for penaty rates outside 9-5 ? I bet you would find the weekend services were suddenly able to be staffed.

Its a massive con by the TWU. They got the payrise by gaining a composite rate, in the EBA yet dont actually want to do the work agreed to. It is no way an act of good faith and smells badly.

If the government had any backbone they would have let the agreement expire, and have you work at award rates. Which would see you get what you want – MO MONEY for working weekends.

geetee said :

Cool – a virtual 6pm-10am curfew each day of the long weekend for everyone under 16/without a car.

Is that a bad thing?

grump said :

this is a case where unlike the banks, the gubment/ACTION should argue for the weekend to be no different or at least remove the option that drivers currently apparently have to opt in or out of weekend rosters. No wonder the bus system is crap of a weekend or holiday when drivers can decide whether or not they work (not arguing for removal of penalty rates btw) – don’t want to work the weekend, then

We don’t get any penalty rates for working weekends. Last EBA management wanted to bring in compulsory weekend work with nothing in return. We unsurprisingly didn’t agree.

johnboy said :

Keijidosha said :

God forbid that some drivers might want to enjoy the long weekend rather than drive an empty bus around.

If you don’t like driving buses then bus driver is a pretty poor career choice.

So are we to take it that the only people who need apply for bus driving jobs are those who have no concern about giving up their public holidays, regardless of whether their services are actually needed or not? That’s a pretty fatuous argument you put up there – I’m sure that bus drivers are fully aware that they are going to have to work on some holidays, but that doesn’t mean that they’d be happy to drive around empty buses instead of spending time with their families.

And where you you draw a line with decisions like this? The old adage “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time” comes into play here I think. It’s true that some people will be inconvenienced by running a Sunday schedule all weekend – but given the choice of forcing some people to more carefully plan their trips to fit in with a less flexible schedule, or costing everyone more money by running a higher frequency but severely under-utilised service, I know which direction I’d like the government to take.

Saturday is a public holiday. It costs more.

Cool – a virtual 6pm-10am curfew each day of the long weekend for everyone under 16/without a car.

Because running a Saturday service on the Saturday was just too hard?

Well… be honest about it.
Who is going to be hanging around Canberra over the long weekend?

Just ask your friends and colleagues. If half of them say yes then I think reducing the bus service to Sunday timetable isn’t so drastic.

Keijidosha said :

God forbid that some drivers might want to enjoy the long weekend rather than drive an empty bus around.

If you don’t like driving buses then bus driver is a pretty poor career choice.

God forbid that some drivers might want to enjoy the long weekend rather than drive an empty bus around.

As usual, ACTION say eff you to those of us who have jobs but not cars. Getting to work this weekend is going to be a pain in the arse, just like every other long weekend (and, truth be told, every bloody Sunday). And then they wonder why no one uses the “service”.

Because running a Saturday service on the Saturday was just too hard?

Everyone’s out of town so why bother?

this is a case where unlike the banks, the gubment/ACTION should argue for the weekend to be no different or at least remove the option that drivers currently apparently have to opt in or out of weekend rosters. No wonder the bus system is crap of a weekend or holiday when drivers can decide whether or not they work (not arguing for removal of penalty rates btw) – don’t want to work the weekend, then

And they wonder why most people choose to drive cars in Canberra.