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Minister’s Commitment on the NIF
Ministers’ commitment on the NIF and further industrial action
Arising from the commitments given by the Transport Minister, on Thursday 10 February we sought confirmation on his commitment regarding the NIF.
Specifically, we asked for confirmation that his commitment meant: The Agreement (or Agreements) will contain a term prohibiting the use of Driver Only Operations. Enable the crew cab door to open as the train is arriving at the platform and remain open as the train departs the platform. Reposition the bell and passenger door controls to the crew cab door to allow the Guard to supervise the boarding and alighting process and provide an “Absolute Right of Way”. Move the CCTV monitors in the crew cabs to allow them to be used as an aide for the Guard in the departure process while standing at the open crew cab door, and to ensure the Driver is not distracted while driving the train. Alteration to infrastructure to ensure that the Guard is in a crew cab (not the drivers crew cab) that is on the platform at all times. Mandated procedures on the following: 1. Station Staff or On-Board Repeater’s ability to indicate to the Guard both visually and audibly that it is safe to commence the departure process. 2. The Guard to be the primary source of accountability for the departure process. 3. The Guard is to visually and audibly manage the platform train interface. 4. CCTV screens in drivers cab to be turned off, at all time. No inward facing in-cab camera will be operative in the crew cabs. We also sought confirmation that this commitment had equal application to the New Regional Fleet (NRF) project given the reference to Passenger Service Supervisors (PSS). Once we receive a response from the Minister, we will inform members accordingly.
Further industrial action for Train Crew
Drivers and Guards delegates held meetings and endorsed a new suite of actions commencing from 21 February 2022 and running for a full fortnight. These actions are: • Continuing the Overtime Ban • Continuing the Foreign Depot working ban Train Crew will not accept altered working • Train Crew to sign on and off at their appointed Home Depot. • Train Crew to not accept any change to their current Master Roster Train Crew will not accept transpositions slips • Regional Drivers will not accept changes to current timetabled stopping patterns
RTBU PLANS ELECTION BLITZ
Transport issues to be front and centre in Federal election campaign
The RTBU is planning a coordinated national campaign called Put Transport Back in the Fast Lane to make sure pollies take transport seriously during the upcoming federal election. National Secretary Mark Diamond said transport should be one of the top issues for voters right around the country. “While much of Australia was in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s transport networks kept on going. “But the reality is that many of those networks are slow, congested, and falling apart. “That has an impact on the cost of living, on the amount of time people can spend with their families, and the health of the overall economy. “We’ll be calling on politicians to back new projects for rail freight and public transport, and to support the growth of good secure jobs in the transport sector.” Mark said the campaign would be built on grass-roots activism, with local teams getting out in their communities. Election candidates will be invited to sign the ‘Fast Lane pledge’, and voters will be told which candidates have signed up - and which ones haven’t. “The Federal election is likely to be very tight, and every vote will count. “Politicians will be listening – so there’s no better time for the voices of transport workers and their families to be heard.”
The FAST LANE Pledge for Federal Candidates
I pledge to support measures that lead to faster, safer and better passenger and freight transport networks across Australia, including: » Building more trains, trams and buses in Australia; » Increasing Federal investment in public transport to provide Australians with better access to services and reduce our transport-related greenhouse gas emissions; » Developing a long-term plan to grow jobs in the rail freight sector » Better integration of rail, rail, sea and air transport; and » Ensuring people doing the same job have the same pay and same standards of workplace safety.
RTBU National Council
Despite the limitations of ongoing travel restrictions, the RTBU National Council was held on 10 November, with over 50 Delegates in six meeting rooms across six states, and the remaining Delegates tuning in via video-link from their homes.
Delegates delivered 18 reports, heard three guest speakers and passed 45 motions in just six jam-packed hours. Some of the highlights of National Council included: » Confirmation of National
O ce’s Operational Plan for 2022; » Adopting rule changes to confirm the amalgamation of the two Western Australian branches from 1 January 2023; » Addresses from Shadow Minister for Industrial relations
Tony Burke MP and ACTU
Secretary Sally McManus; » Approving a campaign strategy for the forthcoming Federal election; » Committing to campaign for more Australian-made trains, trams and buses. Speaking at the National Council, National Secretary Mark Diamond told Delegates that working people, on their own, were sitting ducks for powerful corporations and the financial elite. “But when we act collectively, when we are united, and when we have each other’s back, we’re right in the game,” Mark said. “The formation of the modern RTBU - from the amalgamation of the ARU, AFULE, ATMOEA and NUR – was all about leveraging our power and building a stronger voice for union members. “Our predecessors had a vision, and determination, to better the lives of workers in the rail, tram and bus industries. “Our mission, our sacred duty as custodians of this great trade union, is to deliver on that vision. To make it happen.”
RTBU Delegates from Queensland
NSW RTBU Delegates to National Council
You can find a link to the National O ce Operation Plan and to a video of Mark’s Diamond’s opening address on the RTBU website at
www.rtbu.org.au/ making it happen
In 2021 Transport for NSW decided to award the Country Rail Network (CRN) contract to UGL and will now be known as UGL Regional Linx. This contract, for the last ten years,was previously held by John Holland. UGL have stated that they will predominantly be regional based at Orange and with a strong focus on indigenous employment. worked closely with our members transferring or exiting employment from John Holland.
End of the line for the JH CRN Nyngan Depot , Members getting the details from Matt Jones John Holland General Manager.
John Holland:
Some interesting facts of the past ten years
Railway lines managed on the CRN 2470 kilometres of operational and more than 3000 kilometres of non operational rail line
CRN assets managed by John Holland
more than 99,000 CRN assets managed across agriculture and service civil and structures property signalling and control systems tech and techno systems and track access
Freight lifted onto the network every year About 8.56 million tonnes are lifted 30% flour and wheat 29% mining
Employees and contractors that have worked on the CRN over the past 10 years more than 2250 employees and contractors
rail sleepers installed 1,358,726 steel and concrete sleepers installed
Bridges replaced 45 over and under bridges replaced
Vegetation control more than 20,000 kilometres of vegetation maintained in the rail corridor
Infrastructure members at ARTC Maitland keeping up to date with the Rail and Road.
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Need to keep up-to-date with what’s happening in your union, need to know more about how fellow members are fighting for workers’ rights and winning battles on a daily basis make sure you grab your next edition of Rail and Road, or check out the rtbuexpress.com.au
