BRISBANE bus drivers are refusing to collect fares on Thursday this week before going on strike during Friday peak hour as as a bitter feud with council intensifies.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union spokesman Tom Brown said bus union drivers would refuse to collect fares for the whole day on Thursday as part of ongoing industrial action.

Then on Friday, members will strike for the second time in two weeks. This time the strike will last for four hours, between 2-6pm.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the RTBU’s move to shut down fare collection — including go card facilities — as part of protected industrial action would sting ratepayers up to $515,000.

He called on drivers to put the safety of 23,000 children first instead of adhering to the union’s strike call from 2pm to 6pm on Friday.

“I urge parents and schools to ensure alternate arrangements are made to ensure the safety of school children on Friday afternoon,” he said.

“While the school-run services will be our operational priority, most school children catch normal bus services.”

Cr Quirk warned the impacts would likely be felt from 1pm to 7pm on Friday but council would be increasing CityCat services to help make up for the shortfall in buses.

Drivers walked off the job on Tuesday and Wednesday last week between 4.30-6.30am as part of industrial action after enterprise bargaining agreements with council soured.

The union has been arguing for more security on buses, better pay and more input into the rostering system since the previous enterprise baragaining agreement expired in October last year.

Cr Quirk said the union had rejected council’s offer to meet this Friday because of “other committements”.

RTBU spokesman Tom Brown refused to return requests for comment because he was “at a function”.