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Bus strike strands Hills commuters

Adelaide Hills school students and commuters will have to find alternative travel today as bus drivers strike, bringing the region’s public transport network to a standstill.

Jul 26, 2022, updated Jul 26, 2022
Picture: Tony Lewis/InDaily

Picture: Tony Lewis/InDaily

About 50 drivers, who work for Keolis Downer subsidiary Southlink, walked off the job from 24 hours from midnight with many expected to rally outside the Aldgate bus depot this morning.

The Transport Workers’ Union has been threatening the strike for more than a week and pushed ahead with the action following a last-minute meeting yesterday that failed to resolve a breakdown in pay negotiations.

The drivers, who work for Keolis Downer subsidiary Southlink, will walk off the job on Tuesday.

The TWU says an agreement has not been reached on key issues including a fair wage increase and rostering pressures.

It says the strike will impact bus routes across the Hills, including services running from Aldgate and Mount Barker to Adelaide.

“Strike action is a last resort and not a decision that’s taken lightly, but after over six months of protracted bargaining these drivers have been left no choice,” TWU branch secretary Ian Smith said.

“They deserve a fair deal that recognises the essential work they do, and doesn’t lock in substandard wages and conditions for years to come.”

Adelaide Metro said Hills commuters should seek out alternative transport options on Tuesday.

“SouthLink and Adelaide Metro thank all customers for their patience, and apologise for any inconvenience caused by the industrial action,” it said.

Department for Infrastructure and Transport CEO Jon Whelan said the state government department was acting as a mediator between Keolis Downer and the TWU.

“We would have hoped that we wouldn’t be in this situation but unfortunately we are and the commuters are affected,” he told ABC Radio this morning.

“What we are doing is we are getting the parties to the table … I think there was very positive discussions yesterday and there was some movement.

“What’s important now is we keep those positive discussions going and we get something that can be offered to their members.”

The TWU also yesterday added its voice in response to the truck crash at the bottom of the South Eastern Freeway on Sundy afternoon that sent nine people to hospital.

The union has called for a range of measures including a third arrester bed installed near the bottom of the Freeway; a designated heavy vehicle lane, and; a reduction in the speed limit for heavy vehicles to 40km/h on the down track.

Smith said the TWU had written to the state government to share its recommendations and voice its concerns.

He said the accident should be a wake-up call to act now in the interest of safety, following years of inaction.

“Yesterday’s accident was a frightening incident that has yet again displayed to the state that the South Eastern Freeway is a tragic accident waiting to happen,” said Smith.

“We saw a tragic fatality in 2014 and nothing changed. We are lucky that no one was killed yesterday but unless nothing is done about the safety on the descent of the freeway, then it’s just a ticking time bomb.”

 – with AAP

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