Brisbane bus drivers return to strike

Hundreds of Brisbane City Council bus drivers will strike again, after two separate assaults on drivers inflamed a long-running industrial dispute with management.

Bus drivers will be joined by other council staff when they walk off the job between 10am-2pm and 6pm-10pm on Thursday.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union secretary Tom Brown said an assault against a driver on Saturday and again on Tuesday had roused the concerns of members negotiating for improved safety and security measures.

"Unfortunately it strengthens (our position) because the more this happens, the more the drivers resolve and the more public support we gain," Mr Brown told AAP.

"The bottom line is if the driver's not safe, the public's not safe."

Mr Brown said both incidents had been reported to police.

The RTBU has been at loggerheads with the council for months over pay, rostering and safety issues.

Among the measures being asked for is a move away from cash handling, which Mr Brown said led to a majority of altercations, more security staff stationed on buses or following in vehicles and the appointment of senior network officers with authority to detain and eject patrons.

"The council response has been that they are doing what they can," Mr Brown said.

"They're doing too little, too late. We want a rock solid commitment from them that they can't back away from."

AAP has contacted Brisbane City Council for comment.

Brisbane City Council says it condemns assaults against Brisbane bus drivers and it has called for tougher sentences for people who commit these assaults.