PN Bulk Members Vote for New Enterprise Agreement

Pacific National Bulk and Coal Members have resolutely endorsed a new enterprise agreement. 62% voted ‘yes’ out of the 89.4% of eligible workers who voted.

This is a great result and demonstrates positive support for the EA delegates’ hard work over the past two years. Thanks to RTBU Locomotive Division members’ commitment and unity, we stopped PN from their philosophical Part E, that would have seen all new employees on inferior conditions. Instead, we now have an agreement with a fair and just process to review a mixed commodity model that will not just be one sided. The new Agreement sees a one off $1000 gross payment, and a 6% wage increase in the first year of the agreement. This will be followed by three more annual increases of 4% and a 2% sunset. 20% in total over the next 4 years. Additionally, after 20 years of push back the agreement now has compulsory arbitration, the first Pacific National agreement to contain this. A massive win for the PN workforce.

We will be setting in place arrangements for the Transition Committee formation which we will keep you informed about as we progress. Understanding the strong desire expressed by members to establish an all-up wage, we will be undertaking membership engagement seeking your thoughts and ideas of how a mixed commodity model can work and what an all-up wage could/would look like.

We should not underestimate the time and focus needed to work through what a successful all-up wage may look like understanding the current pay and entitlements across both sections of the business. Consideration will need to be given to what is, and isn’t included, and also factor in the different work performed by members across different rosters, regions, and depots. The Committee will also work with local representatives to develop a number of options for members to consider and provide feedback on.

Congratulations again. It hasn’t been easy, but we’ve finally got an enterprise agreement that will see members receive a much-needed pay increase, some improved conditions and strong protections going forward.

NIF Stoppage - Strength in Solidarity

Congratulations to the membership of the Signallers Sub-Division for being instrumental in bringing the NSW Government, Sydney and NSW Trains to the table, resulting in the delivery of a gold-standard enterprise agreement.

The Signallers Sub-Division membership work in a diverse work environment ranging from signalling complexes accommodating large numbers of Area Controllers through to one-person signal boxes. However, no matter how large or small their area of control is, all Signallers and Area Controllers are essential to running a rail network.

The Signaller Sub-Division membership was straight out of the gate in blocking the NIF at the commencement of the Protected Industrial Action (PIA), with Wyong and Lithgow Signal Boxes leading the charge with blocking the NIF from leaving Kangy Angy and Lithgow yards.

Sydney Trains then approached the Signaller Sub-Division representatives seeking their assistance with the train to be run for mechanical reasons; this resulted in an agreement of the NIF being carted around behind a freight locomotive and not under its power to address the mechanical reasons and this only occurring after Sydney Trains sought authorisation from the Signaller Sub-Division on each occasion.

The result is that from the commencement of the PIA until the agreement was reached, the NIF has not run under its power and was trapped at Lithgow and Kangy Angy yards causing major embarrassment for TfNSW, Sydney and NSW Trains and the Government.

Undoubtedly, the membership of the Signallers SubDivision was crucial in helping deliver the Sydney and NSW TrainLink Enterprise Agreement, which is a reward for their solidarity.