Breaking: Newcastle bus drivers forced to take 24-hour stoppage

Media release, 11 December 2025: Bus drivers in Newcastle will stop work from 4am Friday until 4am Saturday taking buses off Newcastle’ road network following Keolis Downer’s continued refusal to provide local workers with a fair enterprise agreement.

The escalation comes after workers convincingly rejected Keolis Downer’s proposed enterprise agreement, with local bus drivers voting against the offer in large numbers.

Tram and Bus Division President Peter Grech said the result reflects the deep frustration drivers feel about the private operator’s treatment of workers, commuters, and the Newcastle community.

“We’ve been warning that unless Keolis Downer showed some sense, we’d be forced to take stronger action – and we’ve now reached that point,” Mr Grech said.

“Because of the company’s recalcitrance, drivers will stop work for 24 hours from 4am Friday. This is not where we wanted to end up, and we know it will affect commuters, including those heading to festive events. But Keolis Downer has left us with no choice.”

Mr Grech said bus drivers have gone to great lengths to minimise disruption to the community throughout their protected industrial action.

“We’ve done everything possible to shield passengers from impact while still applying pressure to the company, but Keolis Downer has shown it does not share our respect for commuters or workers and is more than happy to let our community suffer the pain of this industrial dispute.”

He said the company’s ongoing failures have eroded trust and pushed workers to breaking point.

“The incompetence of Keolis Downer is astounding. They’ve failed to keep workers safe from assaults, they’ve bungled basic payroll processes, and they have repeatedly refused to offer a fair agreement. They even sent the enterprise agreement voting link to workers’ next of kin as well as to the workers themselves.

“This is a company more focused on turning a profit than delivering a quality service for Newcastle

“When the buses stop tomorrow, let’s reflect on the fact that the NSW Government is paying a premium to this company for a rolled gold service. Instead, taxpayers are getting less than the basic package. It’s time for these buses to come back to public hands.”