Vic: Bus driver pay dispute taken to AIRC

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-2004
Vic: Bus driver pay dispute taken to AIRC

MELBOURNE, April 8 AAP - Tens of thousands of Melbourne commuters will be forced to
find alternative transport this morning because of a dispute between Victoria's largest
public bus operator and its drivers.

Transport Workers union Victorian secretary Bill Noonan said 300 bus drivers were told
not to return to work after a meeting yesterday to discuss the National Bus Company's
latest pay offer.

The union will today fight the lockout in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission,
with the matter to be heard at 9am. The bus drivers are expected to decide their next
move at a meeting afterwards.

"They are trying to bully the members into accepting a lower rate of pay than other
bus drivers doing the same sort of work," Mr Noonan said.

Drivers want pay parity with those at other companies, which equates to a pay claim
of about 16 per cent over three years.

The National Bus Company runs services on 44 routes across Melbourne, carrying about
40,000 passengers each day.

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KEYWORD: BUS DAYLEAD

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