1,200 Sydney public bus drivers will strike for 24 hours from midnight tonight (Wednesday 17 May) in reaction to  Transport Minister’s Andrew Constance betrayal of inner western and south Sydney commuters and public transport workers.

The stoppage will affect four depots in areas where services are to be privatised: Leichhardt, Burwood, Kingsgrove and Tempe. It will affect routes across the inner west and southern Sydney.

Minister Constance’s announcement that public bus services would be privatised was made with absolutely no consultation with the community and despite written assurances to workers last December that the routes would not be privatised.

RTBU Bus Division Secretary Chris Preston said that while members were deeply apologetic about inconveniencing the public tomorrow, they felt compelled to respond to Minister Constance’s outrageous attack on public transport.

“There is one person to blame for this stoppage and that is Minister Constance.”

“With no warning, no consultation and against explicit undertakings, he has placed the future of 1,200 bus drivers and depot staff in limbo.”

“This action is our members’ initial response to this outrageous action.”

“Members of the public should make alternative arrangements to travel to work and take their children to school.”

“This is an inconvenience that a competent and trustworthy Transport Minister would never allow happen.”

“Minister Constance needs to understand that you cannot treat the community and public transport workers with such contempt.”

“We call on the Premier to intervene as a matter of urgency and put a stop to this attack on our public transport network.”