According to the Swedish Transport Agency’s new report, 8,100 new bus drivers are needed over the next three years. Bus drivers are in short supply, and according to Habiba Sadjadi, there is a reason for that.
In the rush, you barely have time to breathe, she says.
– Sometimes we don’t have time to drink water or go to the toilet. I am a stress-resistant person, but it still affects me in the long run, says Habiba Sadjadi.
The next problem arises when the rush is over. Then the drivers can be sitting for hours on involuntary breaks – with a greatly reduced salary.
– You work eight hours and have a three-hour break. In Byxelkrok, for example, there is a break for 1.5 hours, what should you do there, she says.
Follows the collective agreement
Habiba Sadjadi drives for Bergkvarabuss, who understands that the long breaks are not optimal. But according to Johan Andersson, who is a driver coach at Bergkvarabuss, the long breaks are in accordance with the collective agreement.
– Shared services mean that a driver has a longer break where he is not at the employer’s disposal.
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Johan Andersson at Bergkvarabuss believes that the companies are doing their best to optimize the drivers’ working situation. Photo: Hamed Ubaidi
At Kalmar county traffic, which sets the timetables for the buses, they say that they put traffic safety first, and that they are grateful for the signals that Habiba Sadjadi sends.
Hear KLT’s deputy traffic director KLT Martin Åkerberg tell us what they are doing to give the drivers better working conditions in the video below.
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Martin Åkerberg at KLT says that signals about a poor working environment are taken seriously and that more pressure can be put on the procured bus companies. Photo: Press