SMITHFIELD BUS DEPOT SET TO REOPEN AFTER OPERATORS AGREE TO RAPID ANTIGEN TESTING

Services will resume from the Smithfield bus depot from 3:30pm Friday, after the operator Transit Systems agreed to rapid antigen testing of all drivers.

In a massive win for TWU members at the site, Transit Systems has agreed to run rapid antigen screening tests for all drivers at the depot starting from Monday 13 September, and to continue discussions with workers and the union about ongoing COVID control measures.

The depot has been closed for over 24 hours after workers ceased work yesterday afternoon in response to a driver at the depot testing positive for COVID-19.

TWU NSW State Secretary Richard Olsen thanked Transit Systems for agreeing to do the right thing by their workforce, and said now it’s time for the NSW Government to take similar action across the industry.

“Bus drivers at Smithfield have stood up for their right to a safe workplace, and they’ve won.”

“Fortunately, these drivers and the TWU were able to get Transit Systems to agree to implement rapid antigen testing in the Smithfield depot, but it should never have come to this.”

“The TWU apologises for any disruption caused by the depot being closed, and thanks the community for their support of drivers in their fight for a safe workplace.”

“The TWU has been calling on the NSW Government to introduce rapid antigen testing across the entire network for months – and until now those calls have fallen on deaf ears.”

“The NSW Government can’t keep leaving this to the private operators to deal with – they need to fund rapid antigen testing in every bus depot across Sydney.”

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Media Contact: Mitch Wright – 0430 186 590