How to Support The Bus Strike NSW 18th May 2017

ozbjunkie on 18/05/2017 - 15:32
Last edited 18/05/2017 - 17:46 by 1 other user

As much as I was inconvenienced by the bus strike today, I am appalled at the NSW governments proposal to privatise busses in Sydney, and am thankful for the workers for bringing this to my attention.

I have had a quick search online but cannot find a way to support the strike, and show solidarity with Sydney Busses workers.

Any thoughts, ideas or comments on the strike, and information on how to offer a contribution on this issue?

Tldr strike is annoying but necessary, how to support our bus drivers?

Travel

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 18/05/2017 - 15:42
    +4

    London has a fully Privatisated bus service and its amazing, I support the Privatisation of it, if they can make it as good as London.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privatisation_of_London_bus_se…

    • ozbjunkie on 18/05/2017 - 15:52
      +16

      In my admittedly limited understanding of the history of privatisation in Australia, our electricity didn't get any cheaper, our health insurance didn't improve in value… I have a distrust that the busses will be any different.

      • amkssg on 18/05/2017 - 19:29

        Well, it's not really "privatisation" since:

        The government will continue to own Region 6 buses and assets, including depots, and set Opal fares and timetables. Private operators will have to compete and re-apply for contracts every 5 to 10 years.

        Source: https://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-nsw-government-is-pri…

        Quite simply, the routes will now be "privately OPERATED" but not "privately OWNED".

  • edwardsajl on 18/05/2017 - 15:46
    -5

    Buy a car.

    • ozbjunkie on 18/05/2017 - 15:53
      +2

      I have a car, how does that help busses?

      Surely you're not suggesting that the solution to mass city transport is that everyone drive?

      • [Deactivated] on 18/05/2017 - 16:01
        -1

        i like driving my many cars

  • try2bhelpful on 18/05/2017 - 16:22

    I was in Mauritius and the buses went out on strike because the fines for breaking the road rules had been increased. That gives you an idea on how everyone drove over there.

  • Peter Enis on 18/05/2017 - 17:37

    Buses

  • Wystri Warrick on 18/05/2017 - 17:39

    Change.org and tell the bus drivers about the petition, so you, them and your family's will sight the petition and share it on social media.
    Deliver the petition to da gummit?

  • Wystri Warrick on 18/05/2017 - 17:42

    Where's Diji1?

    • Paul Atreides on 18/05/2017 - 17:54
      +1

      Giving gleaming reviews about Telstra

  • ilikeradiohead on 18/05/2017 - 17:51

    Maybe you should get more information on privatised bus systems in Australia and other countries first so you have more information. Then if you are still opposed you can try something to show solidarity with bus drivers?

    I don't have all the information about what is happening in Sydney, but in Perth the drivers are privately employed between 3 (I think) companies and everything seems fine to me. I believe the government owns the busses and has responsibility for mapping routes etc, but the drivers are supplied by bus companies.

    • amkssg on 18/05/2017 - 19:15

      You are absolutely right. There is some misconception as to what happens in this "privatisation" process. If fact, I don't think "privatisation" is the right word to use. The private company would only be a contracted operator, not owner. There is no change of ownership in this process.
      Based on my understanding, the facts are these:
      1) The buses will continue to be owned by the government, not the operator.
      2) The operator does not get to set fares or routes (it's the governments decision)
      3) The operator does not directly earn revenue from passenger fares. Instead, they are paid a contracted rate by the government.
      4) The contracts are for 5 years, and are subject to renewal.

      Quite simply, the government is passing on the buck to a private operator, telling them that:
      1) If you don't improve service standards, there is a financial penalty.
      2) You would lose your contract.

      • ozbjunkie on 19/05/2017 - 09:50

        Thanks for this info. I'll have to look into this more. Super enlightening.

  • AlienC on 18/05/2017 - 19:09

    Why do you need to leave the house for again?

    • ozbjunkie on 18/05/2017 - 20:04

      Can't play rainbow 6 all day…

      Actually I can, I really can. 28 hours straight is my record.

      • AlienC on 18/05/2017 - 20:08

        Damn son that's one hell of a number.

      • rompastompa on 18/05/2017 - 20:29
        +2

        You played 28hours in one day? That's unpossible!

  • mskeggs on 18/05/2017 - 21:53
    +2

    Write a letter to your local member of parliament, the minister for Transport, Andrew Constance, and the Premier.
    I feel they rate hard copy letters with a stamp more highly than emails, but either should get a response.
    If you are in a marginal electorate, write to the party not holding it as well.
    If you are a coalition voter, and this is an issue that is particularly important, let them know you will change your vote over this.
    If you are able to influence anybody else to also write, do so. Sometimes just giving people the email and a paragraph to copy and paste is enough to get people to write.

    Be aware that some people believe that privatisation will produce better outcomes, despite the overwhelming evidence that it does not in almost every case, so you might need to marshal your arguments.

    • ozbjunkie on 19/05/2017 - 09:48
      +1

      Yes my admittedly limited experience and understanding of privatisation is holding me back….

      But it goes something like - businesses turning a profit often do it by charging more or paying workers less. Neither is awesome.

      I have no problem with profit, but would prefer profits were limited for basic social services like public transport.

      • Wystri Warrick on 19/05/2017 - 22:22

        But it goes something like - businesses turning a profit often do it by charging more or paying workers less. Neither is awesome.

        True I'm not a fan of privatisation either, there's always the cost to produce something, and when something is privatised there's the profit motive, the motive to lower wages or increase prices to satisfy the investors.
        If net profit doesn't increase and there's no growth, investors will look else where to invest, you wouldn't put your money in a 1%pa savings account would you when there's a 5%pa savings account, investors do the same there gonna go where the money is regardless if it's a competitor, as consumers we want the cheapest prices so wages are cut then depending on the business it'll close it's doors or offshore, or the government steps in too partly fund the business or cut its taxes to support the business to artificially make it a good investment, but then the peoples taxes increase (often the middle or lower classes) so then consumer (middle lower classes) finds it difficult to afford the product/service so we look for a competitor or we stop buying it altogether, ultimately the business must close it's doors or offshore either way we lose our jobs, then a cycle/ripple effect happens as we no longer have our jobs we look for cheaper competitor's to our other products/services, or we stop buying it then the people who filled those jobs that we once supported go through the same as we did.
        Then with high unemployment it puts a strain on the social security net, so taxes must increase often on the middle lower class the cycle/ripple effect continues, this leads to even more high unemployment until the social security net becomes dissolved, and now poverty rapidly increases people become angry the blame is laid on foreigners for stealing our jobs, Nationalism grows and some people/politicians tap into this anger and sometimes they become President/prim minister, or there is also the very small possibility of revolution or a coup and with this comes violence.
        Ultimately we have no one to blame but the investors and ourselves.

        One of the things that consumers do to counter this is buy from there country or even locally, businesses and governments also spur up Nationalism to support the local economy.

        • ozbjunkie on 19/05/2017 - 23:59
          +1

          Exactly, if we privatise the busses there will be a coup.

          Jk

          But thanks for the reply.

        • Wystri Warrick on 20/05/2017 - 00:33

          @ozbjunkie: haha yes my reply was a bit of a "Trump" ;)

  • SydneySwan on 19/05/2017 - 08:01
    +1

    Ozbargain is not a political site. Let us keep it that way and close this thread.

    • mskeggs on 19/05/2017 - 09:05
      +2

      Economics is a contraction of 'political economy', the process of deciding how to distribute limited resources optimally. Which is pretty much what motivates most OzBargain users, I would suggest.
      I think it is pretty reasonable to discuss whether a government decision produces improvements or not in our community and our finances, and how to effectively promote or oppose it. Everybody posting above is quite civil, and there is no requirement for people not interested to participate.

      • Wystri Warrick on 19/05/2017 - 22:31
        +1

        I agree with SydneySwan in that I hate talking about politics, and don't want Ozbargain turning in to a warmongering political fest, but you are right too

        Economics is a contraction of 'political economy', the process of deciding how to distribute limited resources optimally. Which is pretty much what motivates most OzBargain users, I would suggest.

        And you are right everybody has been behaving quite civil and there is no requirement to participate.

    • ozbjunkie on 19/05/2017 - 09:45

      Prices might change, and I don't think they're going down

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