J_Busworth wrote:Presumably this will occur when the current operating contracts come up for renewal in 2021.

J_Busworth wrote:...and what the response of the unions is.

tonyp wrote:plus there's still another union to look after them.

BroadGauge wrote:It's good for the TWU that they will be gaining an influx of members, but diabolical for the RTBU as an organisation to lose an entire division and a large quantity of paying members.

1whoknows wrote:Any chance we can change the topic heading to the more accurate "Franchising of Remaining STA regions"? Privatisation is when you sell off the actual assets and allow the new owner to set routes, timetables etc. Franchising is when the employees get a new employer, which is all that is happening here.

J_Busworth wrote:
Just remember, this is entirely ideological, regardless of the garbage the idiotic minister will say.

Unions warn against Sydney bus sell-off
Unions will meet today discuss industrial action against the NSW Government’s plan to privatise Sydney’s remaining state-run bus services, saying job security for drivers will be “shredded”.
Danielle Le Messurier and Clarissa Bye, The Daily Telegraph

October 24, 2019 10:14am

DAILYTELEGRAPH.COM.AU1:25

ALL bus services in NSW will be privatised under a major transport plan to be unveiled by the state government today.

The Daily Telegraph understands the State Transport Authority will no longer exist under the plan but drivers and maintenance workers will have their jobs guaranteed for the next three and a half years.

Buses have already been privatised in the Inner West where service cancellations have fallen by half and patronage has increased by 20 per cent under the private operators.

It is understood the government will also investigate turning the buses electric.

There are electric buses in London, Paris and Amsterdam and they eliminate the risks posed by diesel fumes.

The state government is expected to announce the plan this afternoon.

Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey said today private operators would struggle to provide the same service on less funding, and end up cutting bus stops along the routes.

Unions will met this afternoon to discuss a campaign against the plans, which they fear will also spread to the train network.

Mr Morey said plans to privatise services in the bus regions seven, eight and nine would simply add to traffic congestion as people opted for cars — “it will affect a lot of people”.

“You will have buses stopping at less bus stops, undermining service quality,” he said. “Problem is they are trying to cut costs but the trouble is the operator hasn’t got the same level of funding as they have, so they actually get less funding and are asked to do more.

“They cut funding to private bus operators and say they are still maintaining the bus routes but what they do is cut the bus stops.

“If you’re an older person relying on the bus service and you have to walk 100 metres, you could be walking 200, 300 metres now.

“And that’s going to affect people relying on those services, key services like north shore, eastern suburbs, highly populated dense areas.

“You start taking bus stops out of those areas it’s going to affect a lot of people.”

Bus region nine is the city’s eastern suburbs, region eight covers the lower north shore and seven includes north western suburbs such as Ryde.

Mr Morey called for Transport Minister Andrew Constance to reveal the full plans, questioning why the issue was not taking to the recent election.

“Privatisation does not serve the public interest, it only serves the profit margins of the new owners,” Mr Morey said.

rogf24 wrote:I hope Ventura takes at look at NSW. Graet operations down in Victoria, never thought I would love a bus operator (including all the operators in Sydney inc STA).

New bus contracts to drive improved services
Published24 Oct 2019
Bus customers will receive additional services and innovative on demand options under new contracts to lift the standard of transport across Sydney.

Minister for Transport Andrew Constance said the reform was designed to ensure the best outcomes for both customers and staff.

“Our bus drivers are the best in the world. They do an amazing job in getting people around this incredible city and play a vital role in helping to tackle Sydney’s congestion,” Mr Constance said.

“Bus patronage has increased by more than 50 per cent over the past six years. This rate of growth outstrips that of all other forms of public transport and we need to address this increasing demand as a matter of urgency.”

The NSW Government will invite the world’s leading public transport operators, Australian and international, to bid for contracts for 13 of Sydney’s bus contract regions over the next three years. This will include the three remaining State Transit operated regions.

Mr Constance said a competitive tender of all Sydney metropolitan bus contracts will enable the NSW Government to reinvest more into delivering better services to commuters.

“We know customers want more buses, more often, as well as a mix of bus services that cater to their needs. This includes high-frequency services on major routes, like the B-Line, and frequent direct options such as on-demand services for short, local trips.”

“The NSW Government will engage with the private sector to transform the current, one-size-fits-all model of service delivery, to one with multiple service types including high-capacity routes and local and on-demand travel.”

Contracts for the three remaining State Transit Regions 7, 8, and 9 – covering Ryde, Gladesville, the Northern Beaches, Lower North Shore, the CBD, and the Eastern Suburbs will be included and be put out to tender by early 2020.

The NSW Government will continue to:

• own State Transit buses and all other assets such as depots,
• regulate timetables, safety, and service priorities, and
• set fares as they are today, under the Opal system.

The reform will also see Sydney’s ageing diesel bus fleet replaced by electric vehicles to reduce the impact of buses on the health and environment of our city.

“Making the switch to an entirely electric bus fleet will deliver huge benefits to the community in terms of reducing air and noise pollution, as well as our incredible drivers,” Mr Constance said.

“As part of this process, we will challenge the industry to begin an ambitious transformation of our bus fleet from particulate emitting diesel to zero-emission buses.

“The experience of other leading European cities demonstrates that a rapid transition to zero-emission buses is possible and I have asked Transport for NSW to work with operators and bus suppliers to develop a plan to transition our fleet as part of the tender process.

“Zero-emission buses are becoming the standard with the significant environmental, health and operational cost benefits being experienced now in cities like London, Paris and Amsterdam. As a truly global city Sydney deserves the same.”

Mr Constance said there would be jobs for the majority of State Transit award staff with the new operator(s), including all bus drivers and maintenance staff, whose jobs will be guaranteed for two years. These staff will also transfer with all their accrued entitlements such as annual leave, sick leave, long service leave, superannuation and their three-year travel pass.

“Today’s announcement is not a reflection on the performance of State Transit bus drivers who have been doing an excellent job dealing with the strong surge in passenger numbers and demanding road conditions,” Mr Constance said.

“We expect more jobs for bus drivers to be created due to the extra services that will be provided.

“We have started engaging with all staff and their union representatives about today’s announcement, and will continue this right through the tender and transition process.”