In a major taunt at their partly French Government-owned operator, Newcastle bus drivers will don red berets this week as part of protected industrial action.

From Monday 3 November, the local Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) members are targeting Keolis Downer, the privately-run foreign company, which has refused to deliver a fair enterprise agreement (EA) to its workers.

It’s understood the employees feel their wages and conditions have fallen behind substantially, while dealing with under-staffing and increased physical and violent threats.

The berets will display the message, French Governent gets paid, our bus is delayed, to passengers.

It demonstrates the irony of Newcastle’s bus privatisation, to an overseas entity, as well as the practical consequence of prioritising profits over the community.

Frustrated RTBU Tram and Bus Division secretary David Babineau admitted the drivers were feeling “déjà vu” in their battle for a fair deal.

“They have been pushed to the brink by a company that prioritises sending its profits back to the French Government over the wellbeing of the Newcastle community,” he said.

“That’s why we’ve launched this calendar of chaos this month.

“To force Keolis Downer Hunter (KDH) to negotiate an EA in good faith with its employees.

“Drivers not in uniform will wear the beret to highlight the industrial action and spark discussion about what’s really wrong with Newcastle’s buses.

“Sadly, we have a statewide problem with the way they’re operated.

“In many regions across Sydney, and in particular Newcastle, the NSW Government has adopted a public transport model for buses where taxpayers’ funds are being funnelled offshore, often to foreign governments.

“Local drivers have spent months trying to get KDH to engage in the enterprise agreement process with them over their legitimate concerns about wages, safety and working conditions.”

November’s “calendar of chaos” includes a mix of actions, consisting of:

• “Tooting” the bus horn when leaving and entering the depots
• A ban on driving buses with less than a full tank of fuel
• A ban on operating buses without a first aid kit on-board
• 12 and 24-hour strike action at the end of the month

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