Bus driver at the limit: threat of strike because of poor working conditions!

Bus driver at the limit: threat of strike because of poor working conditions!

The working conditions for bus drivers in Austria are at the absolute limit. As the new study “Bus Drivers at the Limit” shows, many employees suffer from inadequate working conditions that urgently require improvements. Over 622 bus drivers took part in a comprehensive survey carried out in cooperation with the University of Vienna. Almost 83 percent of respondents said their work involves great responsibility and high stress, while 91.2 percent also have difficulty balancing work and personal life. This is reported by the “We ride together” alliance, which is supported by the vida union and Fridays for Future, among others.

The lack of adequate break rooms and sanitary facilities during working hours is particularly serious. The VIDA union criticizes the fact that many drivers do not have access to toilets during breaks and that their shifts can last up to 15 hours, with a large part of the working time remaining unpaid. In Vorarlberg there is a shortage of around 10 to 15 percent of the required bus drivers, which is further exacerbated by the growing demands in public transport, according to Reinhard Stemmer from VIDA. In the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations, which will continue on February 17th, the unions are demanding fundamental improvements in working conditions, otherwise there could be a first warning strike from February 20th, as well vorarlberg.orf.at reported.

Urgent need for action

The challenge of finding sufficiently qualified employees is further compounded by unattractive salaries and irregular working hours. Study author Emma Dowling notes that many drivers consider their basic salary to be acceptable, but they are dissatisfied with the collective agreement regulations, especially with regard to night and Sunday bonuses. The survey showed that 95 percent of bus drivers want their professional experience to be better recognized through higher wages. Without substantial changes, many drivers will migrate to other, more attractive professions, as is already the case in many areas, including Switzerland. Loud ots.at The need for immediate measures to improve working conditions is becoming increasingly urgent.