The notification includes both bus drivers and engineering and service hall employees in the municipal contract area in southern Stockholm.
– The work situation in public transport in Stockholm is poor already today. Worn buses, stressful schedules and threatening situations are everyday food for bus drivers. This situation blocks the anxiety and stress many of our members know even more, says Catharina Häggbom, chairman of the municipal section University Hospital in the press release.
“Bus drivers are used as game pieces”
The reason for the notification is stated to be that SL and Nobina do not agree on which agreement should apply to public transport at Södertörn.
“This is a matter that politicians, officials and bus companies are responsible for solving. But the members of the Municipal end up with this notification between different interests, ”the trade union writes.
“It is unacceptable that bus drivers are used as game pieces in a negotiating game,” says Zandra Michal, department chair for Municipal Stockholm County in the press release.
Nobina: “deeply regrettable”
David Erixon, Press Manager at Nobina, tells TV4 News that they understand the union’s criticism.
– This is deeply regrettable and we are keen to find a solution that can secure both traffic and our employees, he says.
He says the reason for the situation is that Nobina won an electric bus procurement on traffic on Södertörn in the spring of 2024, but that it took until February this year before they had a complete agreement.
– It is impossible to run an electric bus traffic without electric buses. That is why we have offered to continue the existing traffic until a new agreement and new buses can be in place, he says, emphasizing that they had an ongoing dialogue with the union.
– Now it is an ongoing dialogue and I think that all parties understand the seriousness of the situation and that you are keen to find a solution that ensures both traffic and jobs.
There have been some stormy weeks for the company, which in January took over Stockholm traffic in Söderort, Huddinge and Botkyrka. The first day after the change, 190 departures were canceled. Last week, the company was hit by an IT failure, which had a major impact on bus traffic in several parts of the country.