BY PETER HYSLOP
Newcastle Transport operator Keolis Downer is under fire for providing little communication to schools and locals after a stop work notice issued by the Rail Tram and Bus Union meant all services ground to a halt yesterday afternoon (Thursday March 13).
School and public timetables were thrown into chaos with some students stranded across the region, after the Union claimed a member of the public jumped on a bus and threatened to come back and attack the driver with a machete.
The local Health and Safety Representative then issued a cease unsafe work notice, which meant all buses were called back to their depots at Hamilton and Belmont, causing a slew of delays, before resuming later in the afternoon.
The RTBU has described the violence on buses as out of control, but Keolis Downer has questioned the way the Union handled the action claiming they didn't follow procedure outlined by SafeWork NSW.
The operator says the matter's being investigated.
.jpg) |
| Credit: Wikimedia Commons |
