Government has no plan to address Metro health and safety issues

Tasmanian Labor

· Government treating Metro Tasmania drivers with contempt

· Ferguson has no plan to improve working conditions at Metro

· Metro drivers are at breaking point

The Government is treating Metro Tasmania drivers with contempt by failing to address long-standing health and safety issues.

Shadow Transport Minister, Anita Dow, said Government Business Enterprise scrutiny hearings today confirmed the Government had no plan to improve working conditions for Metro drivers.

“Michael Ferguson acknowledged drivers face serious issues including assaults and lack of access to toilets and confirmed that workplace injuries had doubled in the past year,” Ms Dow said.

“Despite $106,000 spent on yet another consultant for advice on return to work programs, the Minister could not identify any concrete measures to resolve these serious long-standing issues.

“After 11 months of negotiations, Michael Ferguson has failed to resolve the dispute over a new Enterprise Agreement and Metro drivers are at breaking point.

“With the Government’s $450 million budget cuts looming, the impact on frontline services will only get worse.”

Anita Dow MP

Shadow Minister for Transport

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