Weekend inACTION set to continue

[Buzz Killington]

The recent Australian Manufacturing Workers Union-imposed overtime ban which has seen weekend and public holiday bus services canceled in recent weeks looks set to continue.

All ACTION services were canceled on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and the ANZAC Day public holiday as a result of ongoing industrial action in relation to the enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations.

Workshop staff have refused to work overtime on the weekends, meaning that buses breaking down on Friday evenings and weekends would not be repaired until Monday morning, while ACTION Management have resorted to refueling buses themselves.

Jane Timbrell from the AMWU says the overtime bans will remain in place on weekends until enterprise bargaining negotiations are concluded.

"We haven't yet heard anything back from ACTION management or the ACT Government with regards to any offer to finalise stuff," she said.

"Obviously this is very frustrating for everyone concerned. We really look forward to talking to ACTION and the ACT Government ASAP."

ACTION management was confident that there would not be any major delays to services this morning as commuters began the working week. Should the overtime ban continue this weekend however, cracks may begin to appear on Monday morning with a significant increase in the number of buses required for the morning peak due to the commencement of the new school term.

AMWU representatives and ACTION Management will meet later this week.