Sustainable
sustain millions of skilled jobs.
We are in a climate emergency. We need a fundamental economic transformation to avert catastrophe. Safe and sustainable rail must be at the heart of this new economic model.
Investment in high-speed rail reduces emissions from longdistance vehicles, and opens up existing rail capacity for freight transportation. High-speed rail must be at the heart of any national and international sustainable economy.
Technology alone will not reduce emissions to the level we need to decarbonise transport. Mass transit must replace the majority of cars and inefficient models of freight distribution to sufficiently reduce transport’s carbon emissions. Safe and sustainable rail is the key to this modal shift to mass transit. Per passenger kilometre, heavy rail emits 75% less emissions than cars, and light rail emits 57% less In addition to the modal shift to rail, we must also decarbonise rail itself, and the energy system it relies on. Electric and hydrogen rail (Hydrail) are enjoying lower costs and higher investment in the biggest rail markets. Construction, installation, maintenance and operation of e-rail and Hydrail systems can create and
Social justice The scale of investment in rail that the environment and the economy needs requires support from workers, passengers and citizens. Support for an undertaking this size can only be built on transparency, democracy and accountability at all stages. Collective bargaining is the most effective and powerful form of workplace democracy and accountability, and must therefore be at the heart of safe and sustainable rail. Rail is a natural monopoly. The unprecedented modal shift to rail our climate needs therefore demands a single, coordinated, public entity
responsible for fair planning and delivery. Transparency cannot end at the train station. There must be social justice in railway supply chains. The supply chains of rail systems must be subject to the same standards, scrutiny and improvements. This includes working with the ITF and its affiliates around the world to guarantee sustainable finance, ethical procurement and human rights due diligence throughout the supply chain of rail systems. New technology should be utilised for the social good, not for economic gain. Rail workers must negotiate, receive training, and be rewarded for working with any new technology being introduced in rail systems. There should be no automation without negotiation. Workers must control their data and how it is used. New apps and algorithms have inbuilt gender, cultural and ethnic biases, and make life and death decisions with little oversight.
In-cab audio and video update As members would be aware, the RTBU has been campaigning for protections regarding in-cab audio and video recordings with government and ONRSR. Over the past three years we have continued to advocate a strong NO campaign. During this time however some operators such as Watco, Aurizon and The Bowen Rail Company have purchased locomotives with this technology in built and there are little or no legislative protections in place for members working in these companies. The operators and manufacturers are attempting to roll out this technology across the industry without input or considerations on the impacts on train crew. With this in mind the RTBU has been engaged with ONRSR which was directed by the government Ministerial Council to consult with us on the proposed policy. The RTBU has now won additional protections which have been included in the legislative policy which, although far from perfect, are the likely maximum that can be achieved between the parties at this stage. These include: • Limitations which only allow ONRSR, ATSB and the police access to historical recordings (rather than live feeds) after a notifiable occurrence.
RAIL & ROAD March 2022
• Access to recordings can only be for rail safety reasons. Limitations on the publication and disclosure of the recordings. Access constraints for testing. • If an operator tries to access the devices as a live feed, that the employees affected need to be notified in advance. (We understand that this is insufficient but is a base protection that we could achieve at this stage). • The requirement of Operators to consult with train crew effected prior to introduction and use of recordings by the companies (including live feed). For those protections which the RTBU was unable to successfully secure at this stage, which includes an absolute ban on in-cab recording devices being used for live feeds by employers, the RTBU will continue to press for those protections during the legislative drafting stage which is likely to commence mid next year. The RTBU will be involved in the legislative drafting and we will need to be satisfied that train crew are protected prior to in-cab recordings being mandated in any form.
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