And sticking together as one is best way to protect your jobs says KEVIN STARR

Unless you have been living in a cave out the back of the Black Stump you'd be aware how the economy has taken a significant change for the worse in the last few months. So what does this mean to us and our jobs?

Well firstly, our jobs should be pretty secure as people in general will need more and more public transport the longer the downturn sticks around. And we have been incredibly lucky having stitched up our pay rises just before it all hit the fan. People in other industries have not been so lucky.

All the metro bus firms say they are now up to - if not over - their required number of drivers. And with jobs being harder to come by I dare say more and more bus drivers will be sticking around for the relatively better job security. The ongoing pay rises won by the TWU are also making the job a bit more attractive.

Interestingly, some companies have told me they will not be employing ex mine workers. The thinking is they will leave as soon as the mines crank up again. However managers have assured us there will be no ‘culling' of drivers whose faces don't fit the company. However, where before, certain things may have been overlooked in
the interests of keeping bums on seats, there will now be less tolerance when drivers do the wrong thing.

So you will certainly see the difference in things like early running, customer complaints, punctuality and responsible accidents.

While we have all the assurances in the world, there will most certainly be cases of some drivers, who will be actively targeted in the hope they will leave. It must be noted that even though you may well be sacked the company may have done nothing wrong according to the law. Sacked workers must be able to prove their dismissal was harsh, unfair or unjust.

I suppose what we are saying is DON'T MAKE YOURSELF A TARGET. If there is a problem by all means take it to management. If it needs to go higher get in
contact with your delegates or with me and let me take it as high as it needs to go. Under no circumstance should you contact the PTA direct. Go through your management or through me!

Drivers and security staff have often got themselves in hot water by biting off more than they can chew. The same goes for our delegates, if you need something done think about it and let me do it, if it has the capacity to get you in trouble.

AND THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOUR JOB in these tough times is by sticking together as part of a GOOD STRONG UNION LIKE THE TWU.

Sit out like a CLEVER DICK on your own and one day they might KICK THE LIVING SH!TE OUT OF YOU.