Greater Darwin area commuters are being advised to seek other transport options because of a 24-hour bus drivers strike on Monday, October 20, after stalled enterprise bargaining negotiations between the Transport Workers Union and private bus operator CDC.

The Department of Logistics and Infrastructure announced on Friday that urban bus services in Greater Darwin, including those in Palmerston and surrounding rural areas, will cease operations at 12:00am on Monday as part of the 24-hour protected industrial action.

NT bus services in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Jabiru and Batchelor will continue to operate as scheduled, the government said.

Dedicated school bus services, including special needs services, will also continue to operate as usual.

However, students who rely on urban services to get to school will be unable to take a bus on Monday.

“This includes students who use urban services to travel to an interchange in order to connect with dedicated school bus services,” the department said in a statement.

Hospital shuttle bus services between the Royal Darwin Hospital and Palmerston Regional Hospital will remain operational. This service is for patients or approved escorts travelling to medical appointments only. Electronic wheelchairs and mobility scooters are not accommodated, the department said, and bookings are required.

The TWU said the strike action was a last resort amid stalled employment negotiations.

“Strike action is always a last resort. It’s extremely disappointing that it has come to this, but our members have been more than patient in their attempts to secure a fair agreement that would bring them in line with industry standards,” TWU SA/NT Branch Secretary Sam McIntosh said this week.

Mr McIntosh said the TWU is ramping up its campaign for improved safety standards and is pursuing a new enterprise agreement after the previous one expired in June.

The union is also pushing for better working conditions, which include increased penalty rates for weekend shifts, as well as essential safety enhancements.

“TWU members will be on strike for 24 hours, though we will ensure that school and special needs runs continue to operate,” Mr McIntosh said.

“Let’s be clear: this campaign is vitally important, and we will be forced to take further action if an improved offer that reflects industry standards isn’t put forward. Drivers and our community want to see this resolved so that we have a safer, fairer and better bus network.”

The TWU previously raised serious safety issues on Darwin buses, including drivers increasingly being physically assaulted, verbally abused, and having to deal with rocks being hurled at buses. Last year, a driver was attacked and kicked in the head while driving a bus down a highway.

Bus operator CDC also confirmed Monday’s 24-hour work stoppage in a statement on Friday and said further information about particular services that will be impacted could be found on the CDC NT website and Facebook page.

“CDC Northern Territory is continuing the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement discussions in good faith with the Transport Workers Union and our employees,” the company said.

“We remain committed to reaching a fair and reasonable resolution.”