Members Win Sydney Trains / NSW Trains dispute

RTBU members have claimed a massive win in the epic Sydney Trains / NSW Trains rail dispute after the NSW Government signed a deal locking in safety modifications to its Koreanmade New Intercity Fleet.

The dispute stretched more than a year and involved the mothballed trains as well as the long delayed new Enterprise Agreement. From an initial wage offer of 0.3%, to refusal to address the safety concerns around the New Intercity Fleet, to the NSW Government calling the RTBU every name imaginable, to media hype, pre-election political posturing, we won. Through ongoing industrial action, members showed the Government that we would not back down and accept an inferior agreement.

RTBU members overwhelmingly voted in support of the new EA, , that includes a $4,500 cash payment for employees and two annual pay rises over the life of the agreement, which will expire in 2024.

As part of the agreement, the NSW Government has signed a deed committing it to carrying out the much-needed safety modifications to the New Intercity Fleet.

“We knew that eventually com-mon-sense would prevail and the State Government would come to the table with a commitment to deliver the safe trains and the fair Enterprise Agreement workers and commuters deserve,” NSW Branch Secretary Alex Claassens said.

“There is still more work to be done, but this is a significant step forward.”

The Government has also:

» Agreed to a number of outstanding items, including an allowance of $2.25 per hour for Cleaners and new rostering arrangements, staf f i ng guarantees for Station staff, Onboarders, Guards and Repeaters.

» Agreed at the Fair Work Commission (FWC) that it will not backflip on a range of previously agreed items, as it had done in the past.

» Agreed to arbitrate in the FWC on wages, with a guaranteed payment and the opportunity for the Commission to grant higher wage increases after looking at all relevant circumstances.

Alex said the NSW Government had no idea what it was up against when it picked a fight with RTBU members.

“This dispute is one for the history books,” he said.

“And those books will show that the Perrottet State Government thought it could get away with forcing people on to unsafe trains and forcing workers to accept an inferior enterprise agreement. It was proven very wrong by a membership of strong, united rail workers.”

Alex said members deserved better, after putting their health and their families’ health on the line during the pandemic to keep the state moving, and after watching the cost of living skyrocket.

For more details of the full list of conditions in the new EA, see www.ourrightsourfight.com.au