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UPDATE, WEDNESDAY 3.30PM: Thursday’s planned bus strike has been called off. Services will run as normal in Ballarat after the Transport Workers Union cancelled its planned industrial action. CDC Victoria made the announcement on Wednesday afternoon. PTV Deputy CEO Alan Fedda said it’s great to see that all parties have reached agreement and people won’t have to face disruptions tomorrow. “This is a terrific outcome for our passengers, with services running as normal tomorrow,” said Mr Fedda. "I’m pleased that all parties returned to the negotiating table and those discussions have resulted in a successful outcome.” Transdev and CDC are contacting schools to notify them that bus services will collect students tomorrow morning as normal. EARLIER, MONDAY: Ballarat’s public buses will be brought to a standstill again on Thursday, with CDC Victoria announcing a 24-hour strike. All of Ballarat’s lines will be halted from first morning bus service on August 16. CDC chief executive officer Nicholas Yap said the company was “disappointed that despite good progress in mediation” over three weeks, another strike would occur. “...the TWU have walked away from constructive discussions in favour of industrial action that is designed to significantly disrupt the public and school children who rely on school services to get them to and from school,” he said. A message circulated to Victorian Transport Workers Union members stated that talks with the state government had “broken down” on Friday without an agreement being reached. Drivers want a four per cent pay and one per cent superannuation increase, as part of their new enterprise bargaining agreement. PTV CEO Jeroen Weimar said it was “very frustrating”. “This could be avoided and will create huge disruption for many of our passengers,” he said. “We’re calling on the TWU to suspend the action and return to the negotiating table.”

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