新西兰籍司机Brendan Cunningham在悉尼私营巴士运营商Keolis Downer工作不足5个月后选择离职。[1]Cunningham于2024年3月入职，但因工作压力大、支持不足而最终辞职。[1]这一事件反映出悉尼巴士行业人力短缺的严峻现状——悉尼北滩巴士司机数量已从超过500人大幅下降至上月的168人。[1]
Keolis Downer对员工离职设置了高额罚款条款，规定员工在6个月内离职需赔偿10,000澳元，12个月内离职需赔偿5,000澳元。[1]周薪约为1,300澳元的司机难以承受这样的惩罚性条款。[1]Cunningham被公司扣留了5,000多澳元薪资，导致铁路、电车和巴士工会（RTBU）已在联邦法院提起诉讼追回这笔款项。[1]
NSW政府数据显示，十之八九接受培训的巴士司机会在6个月内离职，表明整个行业存在严重的留用问题。[1]Keolis Downer目前通过新西兰招聘计划雇用14名司机以补充人力。[1]运输部长John Graham表示，政府已投入2亿澳元用于改善司机薪酬。[1]
A New Zealand bus driver recruited to work for Sydney's Northern Beaches private operator has departed after less than five months on the job, highlighting the acute staffing crisis facing the region's transport network.[1] Brendan Cunningham began work in March 2024 but left due to high workplace pressure and insufficient support.[1] The departure has sparked legal action, with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union filing a case in Federal Court to recover more than $5,000 in withheld wages from Keolis Downer.[1]
The operator's exit fee structure appears to have compounded the driver's difficulties.[1] Keolis Downer requires departing employees to pay $10,000 if they leave within six months, or $5,000 if they depart within twelve months, despite drivers earning approximately $1,300 per week.[1] The broader staffing crisis is evident in the dramatic decline of the Northern Beaches workforce: the driver roster has shrunk from over 500 to 168 as of last month.[1] Government data indicates that roughly eight in ten bus drivers who complete training leave their positions within six months.[1] Keolis Downer is currently recruiting fourteen drivers through a New Zealand employment scheme to address the shortfall.[1] Transport Minister John Graham stated that the government has invested $200 million to improve driver compensation.[1]