CDC industrial action

[timetable gunzel]

PTV have today issued a release advising that 24 hour stoppage on Tues. 10 July is likely for CDC Melbourne, Geelong & Ballarat.

[BroadGauge]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victo ... 69aaae0753

Bus commuters in Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat to be hit by in TWU, CDC wage battle
ALEKS DEVIC, Herald Sun
July 7, 2018 1:39pm

THOUSANDS of bus passengers across the state face being left stranded with drivers walking off the job in a bitter pay spat.

Unless an agreement between bus operator CDC Victoria and the Transport Workers Union is struck, Tuesday will be commuter chaos when bus services in Ballarat, Geelong and up to 49 metropolitan bus routes, in Melbourne’s west, inner east and southeast are affected.

Trains, trams and other bus services not operated by CDC, will operate as normal.

Almost 600 CDC bus drivers will walk off the job for 24 hours in protest over the 2.5 per cent pay rise — with the union demanding at least a 4 per cent pay boost.

It will the first job walk-off to hit the bus industry in 20 years.

I'm not sure if the last statement is correct as I recall that several Ventura depots were on strike over several days in December 2014.

[mrmoopt]

I don't want to speculate, as prob more issues than wages at play.
But for comparison:

Min Wage = 18.29/hr
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-01/a ... nt/9824282

Can't find data for MEDIAN (best measure for salaries)
But Average driver wage = 34.44/hr
https://au.indeed.com/salaries/Bus-Driv ... bourne-VIC

So..... better off than most?

Let's tack in min requirements to be a FRESH driver.
$800 MR course + $100 (rereg fees at VicRoads, VTD DA + medicals)
https://www.barklys.com.au/medium-rigid-course.html
That's a once off cost, equating to, let's say for a P/t school driver @ 44k = 2% of annual income

Still unsure why people are up in arms? 2.5% in this case sounds reasonable.

[MAN 16.242]

Can't find data for MEDIAN (best measure for salaries)
But Average driver wage = 34.44/hr
https://au.indeed.com/salaries/Bus-Driv ... bourne-VIC

Not getting into debate about the strike but I will just point out rates actually around $25-26/hr. Only way get 34.44/hr is if your are either a casual or are averaging out the wage once you include overtime and penalty rates.

[BroadGauge]

Not getting into debate about the strike but I will just point out rates actually around $25-26/hr.

For comparison, that's still less money than entry level staff in the rail/tram industries get, for example barrier staff who make around $28-29/hr.

[mrmoopt]

Not getting into debate about the strike but I will just point out rates actually around $25-26/hr.

For comparison, that's still less money than entry level staff in the rail/tram industries get, for example barrier staff who make around $28-29/hr.

RTBU has always been better at advocacy than TWU. More members at RTBU = more money = better equipped for negotiation.

(That and RTBU has more insiders at management level than TWU) A prev. qualm by a projects officer once said "news got around quicker by the unions than by management".