THE "No fares Thursday" public transport protest will become a weekly event until Metro bus drivers are given the three per cent wage rise they are seeking, the state's top union boss has vowed.
Unions Tasmania chief Kevin Harkins yesterday urged public transport users to refuse to pay fares today in support of the drivers' campaign.
"Passengers should jump on a bus and tell the driver that they support their campaign for a wage rise ... then refuse to pay the fare," he said.
"The impact ... is not the biggest issue, this campaign will continue every Thursday until the dispute is resolved.
"The main aim is to highlight how Metro are treating employees and I think we can tick that one off.
"I think it's ironic that Minister Nick McKim supports protests in the forests but won't offer the same support to lowly paid bus drivers."
Mr Harkins said today's fares boycott would be followed by a protest at 1pm in the Elizabeth St Bus Mall.
Metro Tasmania chief executive Heather Haselgrove said Metro would take a dim view of drivers or passengers who joined in what the company viewed as unauthorised industrial action.
"Drivers and members of the public could be exposed to legal proceedings including losing wages and being fined for this sort of behaviour," Ms Haselgrove said.
"I'm also very concerned that Mr Harkins' ill-considered action is potentially putting drivers at risk of confrontation with passengers who try to board a bus without paying."
She said Metro was not yet taking the matter to Fair Work Australia but reserved the right to reconsider its position.
Ms Haselgrove said she hoped drivers would do the right thing but Metro would check fare takings on each route and consider taking any driver who actively participated in the unprotected bus fare boycott to the Fair Work Commission.
"We're providing all drivers with a written instruction of how they are to handle any passenger who refuses to pay," she said.
"We're also putting notices on buses advising passengers that they must pay the bus fare."
Rail Tram and Bus Union chief Sam Simonetis said drivers were determined to continue with their campaign.
"Metro says it can only afford 2 per cent but in the middle of last year the Metro board awarded itself a 24 per cent pay rise," she said.
"That 24 per cent rise for the board, that really got up drivers' noses
"It's just completely over the top and unwarranted. To then tell drivers they can only get 2 per cent was pouring fat onto the flame.
"The vote on the 2 per cent was 86.7 per cent rejection. Now the CEO wants the 2.1 per cent put to the vote early next week and I think the rejection will be even higher."
david.killick@news.com.au
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