ALP National Conference
A number of RTBU representatives from across the country, including RTBU NSW reps, attended the ALP National Conference in Brisbane recently in an attempt to ensure issues impacted our members were heard loud and clear. The National Conference debated some big national political issues facing the country such as housing, national security and defence, climate change and industrial relations. One of the main roles of the ALP National Conference is to finalise the party’s National Platform. The National Platform is an important document that sets the policy goals of the federal Labor Party. The National Platform is even more important when Labor is in power, as it effectively sets the policy direction for the Federal Government. The RTBU, in conjunction with other unions, was successful in securing a number of critical commitments in the ALP’s updated National Platform including on issues such as strong rail safety regulations, securing the future of rail freight, growing domestic rail manufacturing, growing public transport, criminalising wage theft, and access to arbitration to resolve industrial disputes. What now? The RTBU, along with other unions, will continue to pressure the Federal Government to make sure the commitments in the ALP National Platform are delivered in full. For example, in recent months we have successfully secured a review of national rail safety laws, and argued against the rail safety regulator’s attempt to impose mandatory in-cab surveillance on rail workers. We will continue working to get a fair go for rail, tram and bus workers from all sides of politics.
Public Transport Labor will work with state and local governments to encourage increased use of all public transport and active transport modes. Wage Theft
RTBU-RELATED PLATFORM COMMITMENTS Rail Safety Labor recognises that strong, prescriptive safety regulations are the foundation stone of a safe and reliable transport sector, and is committed to harmonisation of safety regulations to ensure best-practice standards and practices are applied consistently across all jurisdictions. Rail Freight Labor will work to ensure the resilience of our supply chain and freight networks, including considering the importance of rail in the movement of freight across Australia. Rail Manufacturing Labor will work with state governments to address rail infrastructure needs and will ensure more trains are built in Australia to create skilled manufacturing jobs.
RAIL & ROAD September 2023
Labor will increase penalties for employers and related entities that systematically underpay and exploit workers. Labor will legislate to make intentional wage theft a criminal offence. Good Faith Bargaining Labor will promote and ensure good faith bargaining in workplaces, including by developing guidelines on good faith conduct in negotiations to allow access to and assistance from the independent umpire to resolve disputes including giving parties access to arbitration. Union Delegates Labor will ensure union representatives, including delegates, are able to organise and effectively represent workers, including through paid training leave. The updated ALP National Platform will be available online at https://www.alp.org.au/about/nationalplatform/
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