Commuters brace for disruptions as strike action hits Melbourne

Some services will continue after major bus operator Kinetic reached an agreement with drivers during crisis talks earlier this week.

About 200 workers gathered this morning outside the Dyson bus depot in Bundoora.

Workers chanted “stop the buses” and waved union flags.

Bus driver Ravneet Singh Sohi said work conditions needed to improve.

He said he often misses out on quality time with his two children because of inconsistent rostering.

“The last few years have been tough with COVID and being frontline, most of these people and office workers, they were working from home, while we were out in the public and working,” he said.

“We have been trying to negotiate since December last year, (the) dispute is still (about) work-life balance and decent pay.

“All of the members are disappointed.”

The 24-hour strike will affect Melbourne’s eastern, southern and north-eastern suburbs, including some school buses and routes that service schools which may not operate.