3 minute read
RTBU Urges Government to Restore 150 Axed Regional Jobs
RTBU urges NSW Government to restore 150 axed regional jobs as part of bungled Country Rail Network maintenance contract.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) NSW Branch is urging the Berejiklian Government to reverse a 40% job cut across the Country Rail Network (CRN), which has left transport workers facing job losses and fearing for their livelihoods. 150 regional workers are facing an uncertain future, with fewer positions available on the network from January 2022 when operations and maintenance are transferred from John Holland to UGL. RTBU Organisers have been attending worksites prior to the lockdowns to discuss concerns around these changes with members and they have also been present at the Roadshows held by John Holland and UGL. John Holland have been providing regular updates to the RTBU to enable us to better support members however it has been much more difficult to get information from UGL. In recent weeks, this situation has improved. The union is urging Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole to make good on his claims in February that the new $1.5 billion contract with UGL would create new jobs in regional NSW. As a Minister and member of the National Party, Minister Toole has a duty to support regional communities and protect their jobs. The RTBU has asked Minister Toole why over a hundred workers across NSW, particularly in the regions, are facing the prospect of losing their livelihoods on his watch? Conveniently, the only jobs Minister Toole is creating with this new contract are in his own electorate of Bathurst and the neighbouring city of Orange. He’s taken a hatchet to the rest of the Country Rail Network, which will cut 40% of its positions. Depots in West Wyalong, Dubbo and Tamworth will see significant job losses, while those in Nyngan, Parramatta and Mayfield will close completely. These workers have no guarantee of being offered another job with UGL, especially not one with equal pay and conditions that will ensure they can continue to support their families. To maintain the same standards of service on our Country Rail Network, we need to maintain and increase staffing levels. Any loss of boots on the ground is a reduction of quality and safety. There have been concerns raised about UGL being in a position to take over the safe running of the network from the contract date in January following their announcement that their network control centre will not be finalised in Orange by that date. UGL have been given approval from Transport for NSW to operate the network control out of the current John Holland Mayfield site for 4 months to allow the construction to be finalised. The RTBU is calling on the Berejiklian Government to stand by its commitment that it will not cut regional jobs, and to provide a job guarantee to all CRN employees to ensure safety standards are maintained across the network. Regional communities are doing it tougher than ever in this pandemic, while transport workers put themselves at risk every day to keep our state moving. They deserve better than false words and empty promises. They deserve leaders who will actually stand up for their livelihoods and fight for regional communities. We urge Minister Toole and the Berejiklian Government to show that leadership and not betray the communities they claim to represent.
