Friday 22 April: No buses will run
Saturday 23 April: Sunday timetable
Sunday 24 April: No buses will run
Monday 25 April: Sunday timetable
Tuesday 26 April: No buses will run.

Due to further industrial action by the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), there will be disruptions to bus services over Easter, James Roncon, Director, ACTION, announced today.

“The AMWU has informed ACTION they will be continuing their bans on overtime work as well as bus maintenance and associated paperwork throughout the Easter period which greatly limits our ability to get buses on the road,” Mr Roncon said. “This means that ACTION unfortunately has to make significant adjustments to its services across this five-day period.

“A Sunday timetable will run on Saturday 23 April and Monday 25 April and the free chartered bus services will still be run to the Anzac Day dawn services from each major bus station.

“However services will not run on Friday 22 April, Sunday 24 April and Tuesday 26 April. Chartered bus services to the Raiders match on Sunday 24 April will also now be provided by Deane’s.

“Simply put, if ACTION cannot get staff in the workshops to repair and maintain buses it cannot have buses on the road. We have attempted to prioritise our services to Saturday when the shops are open and also to ensure coverage on Anzac Day to the dawn services. Anzac Day is also traditionally a day when people enjoy a drink with friends so by running bus services we will help them get home responsibly.

“Clearly though the fact that bus services will not run on three days will have a significant impact on the bus travelling public. This continuing industrial action is very disappointing and appears to be being done with little regard for the public.

“ACTION has been engaged in good faith bargaining with the AMWU over the proposed Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA). We meet weekly with them and we have allowed AMWU members to participate in two paid meetings to discuss the proposed EBA.

“The proposed EBA is not designed to reduce worker’s rights, rather it will provide more employment options and also allow ACTION to improve its services. Running a modern bus service in a capital city requires a seven-day operation. Currently ACTION cannot have staff rosters which include weekend work and work on public holidays.

“Another key goal of the bargaining negotiations is to review the span of hours worked in the workshops which will increase the ability to better manage the servicing of buses, particularly on buses required for the morning peak.”

Mr Roncon said that ACTION was confident there would not be any significant disruptions on Wednesday 27 April due to the measures being taken over the Easter period.

For more information on ACTION services please visit www.action.act.gov.au or call 13 17 10.”

This page was last updated on 20 April 2011