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Stay in the loop: there’s a bus strike happening right now in Sydney

If you were planning on catching a bus today, make sure you plan for the massive strike that 1,200 Sydney bus drivers are taking.

Despite an emergency Industrial Relations Commission hearing deeming it illegal, the strike will continue for 24 hours starting from 12am 18 May.

Photo credit Bus Express, Flickr

Hundreds of bus drivers in Sydney’s south and inner west are striking to protest against the governments “betrayal” of privatisation.

The strike started at 12AM 18 May and is said to uphold for 24 hours.

The NSW Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) announced the strike as a protest against the NSW government’s plan to privatise some Sydney bus services, threatening hundreds of jobs.

The secretary of the RTBU’s bus division, Chris Preston said Transport Minister Andrew Constance was to blame.

“Minister Constance needs to understand that you cannot treat the community and public transport workers with such contempt. We call on the Premier to intervene as a matter of urgency and put a stop to this attack on our public transport network,” he said.

The following routes will be affected:

401, 406, 407, 408, 412, 413, 415, 418, 422, 423, 425, 426, 428, 430, 431, 433, 436, 437, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 444, 445, 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 466, 470, 473, 476, 477, 478, 479, 480, 483, 487, 490, 491, 492, 493, 495, 502, 504, 508, 526, L23, L28, L37, L38, L39, M20, M30, M41, X04 and X25.

Preston said the bus drivers are “deeply apologetic” but feel they have no other option to respond to this “outrageous action.”

The RTBU have also shared a form you can use to voice your opinion on the matter.

The Sydney Morning Herald were Live with updates.