NSW: Buses to replace Manly ferries during today's strike

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NSW: Buses to replace Manly ferries during today's strike

SYDNEY, April 29 AAP - Manly ferry commuters will have to take buses today becauseof a 24-hour work ban by engineers.

The State Transit Authority are hoping to stop future stoppages of the cross-harbourservice when the issue is heard by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission later today.

The Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers (AIMPE) called the stopworkafter talks on a new enterprise agreement broke down on Saturday.

The State Transit Authority has secured a hearing in the Industrial Relations Commissionfrom midday where it will seek a ban on further strike action until the end of negotiations.

"State Transit has been negotiating a new enterprise agreement with maritime unionsfor the past three months," a spokesman for the State Transit Authority said.

"Negotiations are almost complete with the unions, except for some issues concerningsuperannuation entitlements.

A fleet of buses will run between Manly and Circular Quay until ferry services are restored.

The spokesman said the AIMPE represents services for the outer reaches of Sydney Harbour,so only Manly services would be affected by the action.

AAP gmw/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: FERRIES DAYLEAD