Rail & Maritime Transport Union Volume 2015 # 1

Published Regularly - ISSN 1178-7392 (Print & Online) 30 January 2015 ‘The overtime ban has had a big impact on HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND the port’s operations, leading to closure of YOURS! the container terminal at night for the last six successive weekends, due to the lack of This is the first issue for 2015.This safety critical maintenance staff. Whilst this year promises to be a very busy and has led to LPC amending their bargaining position it has not resulted in management full on year for us all. making an offer our members could accept,’ he said. MEMBERS BACK ESCALATION ‘The two sticking points are pay and OF LYTTELTON PORT DISPUTE: coverage. LPC are offering the equivalent of a less than 2% annual pay increase and are RMTU ISSUES NOTICE OF FULL seeking to completely exclude inland port WITHDRAWAL OF LABOUR workers in Woolston from the agreement,’ he said. Lyttelton Port Branch ‘This is in the context of members voted on LPC’s Chief Executive Tuesday to escalate their Peter Davie receiving an industrial action at 18% boost in his pay Lyttelton Port. Around 200 packet last year taking members of the RMTU his earnings to $1.2m,’ have been operating a ban he said. on overtime since 17 December, and they have ‘The exclusion of the now endorsed a series of inland port workers, full withdrawals of labour some of whom earn $6 at the port. per hour less than our members on the ‘Our members have voted waterfront in Lyttelton is to escalate their campaign for a just and nothing less than economic apartheid,’ he fair collective agreement and on Tuesday said. we issued notice of the first full 24 hour withdrawal of labour from midday on 11 February,’ said RMTU General Secretary MEDIATION SET DOWN FOR Wayne Butson. WEDNESDAY 4 FEBRUARY WITH ‘We will continue to issue one notice of one day stoppages each day from now on until LYTTELTON PORT LPC come to the table with a reasonable LPC have agreed to meet with the RMTU and offer,’ he said. the Ministry of Business, Innovation and ‘Members have also endorsed a public Employment next week in an attempt to campaign to bring the dispute to the negotiate a settlement of the continuing attention of Christchurch City Council, the dispute with the RMTU Lyttelton Branch. owners of Lyttelton Port,’ said Butson. Our Christchurch Rail Branch is meeting on Monday 2 February to discuss the dispute

2 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist and plans are afoot for a demonstration at will start on 6 March. Christchurch City Council Offices if the That’s why Jobs that Count asks you to tell mediation fails to resolve the impasse. Talley’s workers you’re on their side. Christchurch City Council is a 100% owner of LPC, through its investment arm, Your solidarity will make a difference to the Christchurch City Holdings Ltd, and there workers, and also let Talley’s know people are councillors on the latter’s board. are watching. The demonstration is pencilled in for 1600 The link is here: on Thursday 5th February outside the http://www.jobsthatcount.org.nz/support_ta Council Offices on Hereford St. Updates lleys_workers will be provided after the mediation on Wednesday. Also, like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jobsthatcount JOBS THAT COUNT BEGINS And follow us on Twitter: WITH TALLEY’S www.twitter.com/jobsthatcount The Meat Workers Union have launched a Thanks for your support! new campaign for job security in the Meat Industry called Jobs that Count. DRIVER ADVISORY SYSTEM (DAS) New Zealand’s meat workers face it all: casualisation, seasonal work and zero UPDATE hours contracts in a very fractured and Talks between the RMTU and KR have been challenging industry. Hard won seniority ongoing with the last all up meeting on provisions that guaranteed a return to December 16th in Wellington. At this work each season are coming under meeting, we heard from Karl Bridges attack. (Human Factors expert), he reviewed the Union agreements and pay increases are recent report on DAS which included trials, harder to get and no more so than for the training and risks. Karl Bridges did identify 1000 members of the that if DAS was not MWU who work in working correctly then AFFCO Talley’s meat that would increase works. distraction risk. This report will be available Who will forget the for all LE’s. 84-day lockout of meat workers An action from that employed by AFFCO meeting was that the Talley’s in 2012, when RMTU LE KIC reps were workers, whanau and to be trained in DAS and communities paid the undertake OJT. KiwiRail price of an aggressive was clearly informed that employer? Your DAS had to be running solidarity made a big 100% correctly when the difference. reps were undertaking OJT. The OJT for the Three years on, AFFCO central rep, Les Perrin, Talley’s workers are illuminated that there is again facing an uphill significant issues with the operation and battle. Their Collective Agreement expired efficacy of the DAS equipment in double more than a year ago and despite nine cabbed loco’s that hitherto most of us were bargaining meetings there’s no settlement. not aware of. The reps lack of Negotiations are due again in February. understanding, knowledge and awareness of Time is running out. Employment law this and other subsequently revealed DAS changes that make it easier for employers issues has seriously undermined and caused

2/02/15 3 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist a crisis of trust and confidence between ENGLISH BREAKS HIS $6000 the Union and company reps on the project team. WAGES PROMISE A conference call was arranged for the Just one month into the New Year Bill Union KIC LE reps to discuss this situation English has already rowed back on his and to form an agreed position as to what election promise of real wage rises for New the next steps will be for the RMTU. It was Zealanders, says Labour’s Finance agreed that a face to face meeting needed spokesperson . to be convened between the RMTU and KiwiRail and this meeting will be in “During the election campaign National Wellington on Monday 2nd February. promised Kiwis that the average wage would rise to $62,000 by 2018. That’s a $6600 DAS Roadshows in the Northern and pay rise. Southern depots had been planned to take place from mid to late February, and at “But just yesterday Bill English said that low this stage those plans have been placed on inflation means ‘the dollar value of future hold. In our view it is very unlikely that wage increases may be smaller than these roadshows will go ahead as there previously expected’. remains too many issues and question “That’s not good enough. New Zealanders marks with DAS. have done it too tough for too long – nearly half of Kiwi BRITOMART workers didn’t get a pay rise last year and many haven’t for VIOLENCE UPDATE a number of years. The economy is growing and some There will be a large visible sectors are making good Police presence around profits. Low inflation isn’t an Britomart Railway Station excuse to not give pay rises. and on some trains this weekend for the Auckland “Bill English promised New 9’s. Zealanders higher wages. He should be encouraging This is in response to the businesses to give their melee which occurred in employees a raise, not give December last year. There them excuses,” says Grant Robertson. will also be additional security staff involving Maori and Pacific wardens. The report into the melee that was released by TRANSDEV UNIFORMS ALL TIED Auckland Transport played down what was UP a frightening experience for many of our members and passengers. Other outcomes Transdev uniform committee will meet again from the review meeting that the RMTU next week to address the unresolved issues attended, improved radio communications including better footwear, suitable winter procedures, investigating ways to keep jackets. We will also be discussing a review southern and Western travellers apart eg; of the suitability of the uniform for use in have them enter Britomart from opposite summer. Agreement has been reached ends, or use Britomart for Southern regarding the wearing of ties, even though passengers and Newmarket for Western Transdev would prefer to see people travel. wearing ties they accept that it is not part One clear message from the members is of the Terms and conditions of employment that the trains should not be used to and so it is your choice. No one will be remove drunk/intoxicated people out of disciplined for not wearing a tie. the city. Air New Zealand would not have these people on their planes in this state, so why should we accept them on the trains.

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SMALL BUSINESS VITAL TO NEW onsite. By listening to our members and actioning ideas, the shift report system has ZEALAND’S JOB GROWTH changed and on track time has been improved. The study has also identified The Labour Party will make working with changes need to be made into the way the small businesses a priority because they track maintenance is planned and are the key to New Zealand’s future organised. prosperity, Labour Leader Andrew Little said today. “New Zealand is a pioneering nation and it LOW INFLATION BUT HIGH is this spirit of innovation which drives our small businesses. HOUSING COSTS “These companies generated 41 per cent “Rising housing costs are a big worry for of the new jobs created in the past year. households, despite the fall in the CPI in the That is why they are vital to our goal of three months to December”, says Bill having the lowest rate of unemployment in Rosenberg, CTU Economist. the developed world. “The 0.2% fall in the CPI in the three “Labour will work with small business months to December is not unusual because owners to make sure they spend their time of seasonally falling food prices. This time it focussed on their business, not filling in is being helped by falling petrol prices, but tax forms. was held back by rising housing costs and seasonal food prices not falling as fast as “We will ensure there is training and usual,” he says. investment capital so those who want to make a living off their own ideas and “CPI inflation for the year would have been - ambitions can 0.1% instead of 0.8% if it weren’t for rising housing and energy costs. And that doesn’t “Good jobs provide economic security and include rises in interest rates during the sustain our communities and small towns. year, nor the rising prices faced by first They are a source of pride and confidence. home buyers of existing homes. At almost a “Labour will put growing businesses and quarter (24%) of the expenses of an creating jobs on top of the political agenda. average household, housing costs are Over the next two years we will develop a unavoidable and a big drain on incomes. It programme which puts the small business is an even greater burden for many low sector at the centre of a long-term income and young families,” said economic plan. Rosenberg. “A thriving small business sector will help “Current low consumer price rises are not a New Zealand grow our wealth and grow it reason for low wage increases”, Rosenberg fairly,” Andrew Little says. says. “People are due a catch-up in a growing economy where real wages have not grown as fast as the economy I&AM FIT 4 BUSINESS can afford. That is particularly The pilot study involving true for low and middle income gangs in Auckland and earners who have had lower Hamilton has been increases in incomes and face progressing well. RMTU higher inflation. Lower prices for members have put forward petrol, diesel, vehicles, computers many really good ideas for ways their jobs and other items also reduce costs could be made easier, some of the ideas for firms, making a pay rise more being actioned are cameras fitted to hi rail affordable,” said Rosenberg. vehicles to assist with getting on track, availability of an additional iPad to gangs for days Ganger is not present and provision of temporary facilities when

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WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY – 28 and verified on the Midland line on Monday 9th February. APRIL Tait radios have been a festering sore in the International Workers Memorial Day is 28 lives of LE’s for a longtime and it has been a April 2015. The day is about remembering long and trying battle, waged by the those workers, especially RMTU members, delegates, to get these radios “fit for who have been killed whilst at work. purpose”. What has been most difficult is when some issues get resolved only to find In 2015 the theme for the day is that new issues have been created but it is "removing exposure to hazardous our hope that this latest firmware version substances in the workplace" Hazardous will finally resolve all remaining issues. substances are found in almost every workplace in NZ and many workers have Who would have thought that getting a no protection against the possible effects, radio being able to enable high quality voice despite the fact that tens of thousands of communication on the network for LE’s workers have their health destroyed by would be such a challenge? asthma, dermatitis, lung disorders and cancers because of exposures. ANNUAL INCREASE IN PRICES All Branches are asked to commence SLOWS formal arrangements for services at memorial sites. The CPI increased 0.8 percent in the year to the December 2014 quarter. This is the All members are requested to attend a smallest annual rise since the June 2013 memorial service organised near them. quarter. As usual we ask all members to stop Housing and household utilities was the what they are doing at midday to main contributor in the latest year, with “Mourn the dead – Fight for the living” newly built houses (up 5.4 percent), and to think about how important housing rentals (up 2.1 percent), and personal safety is to us all and the electricity (up 3.6 percent) all increasing in importance of going home safe at the price. end of our days’ work. Cigarette and tobacco prices increased 11.9 As usual we will be percent, influenced by an requesting Rail increase in excise duty in employers to January 2014. approve all train and other operations Petrol (down 4.0 percent) stopping at midday was the main downward on the 28th for 1 contributor. Prices for minute. audio-visual and computing equipment fell Please advise us of all 14 percent, after services to be held on adjusting for quality the day? improvements. KIWIRAIL The CPI measures the rate of price change of goods and services FREIGHT LOCO RADIOS - TAIT purchased by New Zealand households. V51 RMTU MEMBERSHIP DATABASE A full resolution to the issues with the Tait Locomotive radio equipment and channel UPDATES issues is hopefully on the horizon. The The RMTU membership database is an latest firmware version 51 is to be tested important tool in contacting Union Members

2/02/15 6 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist or ensuring members are kept up to date TRESPASS ISSUES - with the latest information. We are concerned at the number of “unknown” or NGARUAWAHIA AND TAURANGA “return to sender” envelopes returned to National Office as part of this year’s officer BRIDGES elections. We remind members that if you Rail corridor trespasses are a major concern wish to exercise their rights and participate to LE’s that just want to drive their trains, in the decision making aspects of the incident free and go home again. This has Union they should ensure they inform not been the case in the case of the two National Office of any change of address or bridges above, with trespassers using the contact details as soon as possible. This rail bridge for recreational purposes. includes any change of designation or employer. These trespassers put themselves at risk and also the loco crew with the worry of Branch Secretaries hold “update of being involved in a fatality incident or membership forms” that you can post or having rocks thrown at them or facing an fax in or alternatively for immediate action angry mob on their own. KiwiRail have members are reminded to utilise the issued a bulletin that instructs LE’s to update of membership details link on our reduce speed prior to the Ngaruawahia and website www.rmtunion.org.nz. Tauranga bridges and be prepared to stop For example – All national Union elected short of any trespasser. positions are up for election this year and In the Union’s view this unfairly transfers so there may be votes conducted by mail. responsibility to the Locomotive Engineer in If we have the incorrect address info you the event that the LE is unable to stop will not get a vote as you will never receive before hitting any trespasser. This, in our a voting paper. Update now! view, is a classic case of whereby the person or entity owning and controlling the ELECTION FOR NEW LABOUR workplace is not taking responsibility for providing a healthy and safe workplace for PARTY PRESIDENT the employee in accordance with the obligations of the HASiE Act. This is like the Two nominations have been received for employer saying that the machine guard the position of Labour Party President vacated with the recent resignation of should always work but occasionally it may . A vote will now not and so “be careful when using the proceed, closing on February 26th. machine”. The RMTU National Office has written to the The two nominees are Robert Gallagher, Freight Zero Harm manager and asked for current Senior Vice President of the Party; the bulletin instruction to be immediately and Nigel Haworth, current Policy Council removed and for measures to be put in representative on the Party’s New Zealand place that ensure the track is clear of Council. trespassers before a train approaches and The election is held under the same voting crosses the bridges without placing the total entitlement rules as Labour’s Annual responsibility on LE’s as the bulletin does. Conference, with around 930 votes being In the event that KR declines this request divided between electorate and branch then the Union will be approaching NZTA organisations, people elected to public (the regulator) and Worksafe seeking office under a Labour banner (including further guidance and assistance. MPs) and affiliates. Around 75% of the voting strength is held by electorates and ITF REPEATS CALL FOR branches. ROTTERDAM DIALOGUE AS DOCKERS PROTEST The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) today called

2/02/15 7 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist for all-party talks on the future of the port they are paid for them with no leave of Rotterdam, as dockers refused to unload debited. We will be working on this one and a ship loaded at the new Rotterdam are keen to hear if this has happened to Gateway (RWG) terminal. RWG, unlike you. Please contact your delegate or RMTU other companies at the port, refuses to Organiser. negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with port workers, who are MIC TO MEET represented by the FNV Havens union. The KiwiRail Mechanical On Sunday the vessel Alsvin loaded Industrial Council will next containers at RWG, in what was believed meet on Feb 12th in to be a test operation. It then moved to Auckland. Any issues of a the ECT terminal in Rotterdam to discharge Mechanical nature please get them. Dockers refused to unload them. them to your MIC rep ASAP. ITF president and chair of the ITF dockers’ section, Paddy Crumlin, stated: PUBLIC TRANSPORT “Rotterdam is a giant among the world’ ports and should be a model of good TO SAVE AUSTRALIAN industrial relations. It is notable that all COMMUTERS UP TO the operators there bar one have signed agreements with the union representing its $10,000 A YEAR workers. This is despite many previous A national review of annual commuter costs warnings* and widespread concern about has found that Australians could save an the port’s future.” average of $9,973 every year simply by He concluded: “We urge all parties, and travelling to work with public transport that includes not just all operators and instead of owning and driving a car or port authorities, but also the shipping purchasing a second household car. lines, to get together to defuse this ‘The Costs of Commuting: An Analysis of situation and reach an agreed settlement Potential Commuter Savings’ Report, to ensure the dispute does not escalate prepared by the Australasian Railway more widely.” Association (ARA), identifies the annual cost to commute by car and then uses two LWOP – PUBLIC HOLIDAYS scenarios to quantify the potential savings a public transport commuter could make by (KR) not driving a private vehicle. The scenarios A strange interpretation from KiwiRail’s estimate potential savings for those who pay office is, in our opinion, use public transport and do not own a car or disadvantaging members that take leave have not purchased a second household car without pay over a period that includes and those who own a car but opt to leave it public holidays. The pay office is stating at home. that because the member did not intend to ARA CEO, Bryan Nye OAM, said the start of work then they are not entitled to be paid a New Year brings new resolutions, with for the Public Holiday. many Australians looking for ways to save The RMTU/KR Collective Agreement money and change old habits. provides for payment or an alternative day “This report highlights just how costly it can in most situations whether it was going to be to drive your car to work five days a be a working day or not, this of course is week and in doing so provides a practical in addition to what is provided for in the solution for many Aussies looking to kick off Holidays Act. 2015 saving their hard earned money,” said Putting that aside, in a situation where a Mr Nye. member is on paid leave in a period that “A lot of people are unaware of the includes public holidays, they too have no significant savings that can be made by intention to work the public holidays but selling their car or simply not purchasing a

2/02/15 8 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist second household car and switching to PORT NAPIER – RECORD YEAR public transport. A driver of a larger vehicle, like a Holden Commodore, could After Tax net profit up by 13.5% to $13,433 save more than $12,600 annually while million for the 2014 year! $19m was the driver of a smaller vehicle, like a invested by the Port which included 2 new Mazda 2, could save about $6,400. mobile Harbour cranes. Container volumes were up 6.8% to reach 220,048 TEU’s which “Even commuters who choose to own a car is a huge effort and tribute to RMTU but leave it at home and take public members given the use of mobile harbor transport can still save,” he said. cranes versus other ports using gantry Conservative calculations have been used cranes. to identify the car commuter costs. Non- Port of Napier is now the 4th largest compulsory car insurance has not been container terminal in NZ behind Auckland, costed while only $1,000 for a whole year Tauranga and Lyttelton. The port dredging of parking has been included. programme was completed in 2014 and now “The potential savings are obviously a 12.4m draft is in operation. dependent on individual circumstances but when you consider that Australian CBD LIGHT RAIL PROPOSAL MUST BE parking costs can range from $180 to $750 a month or $2,160 to $9,000 per year, the TAKEN SERIOUSLY savings that can be made by jumping on a train or bus are significant,” Mr Nye Auckland Transport is right to raise Light continued. Rail as part of the solution to Auckland’s traffic congestion and the proposal needs to “Of the 9.8 million Australians in the be taken seriously, says Labour’s Auckland workforce, 60 per cent drive to work, Issues spokesperson, . causing road congestion in our cities that increases carbon emissions and accidents, “Unless radical changes are made, Auckland and is also set to cost the Australian faces traffic gridlock with its population economy $20.4 billion annually by 2020. estimated to grow by another quarter of a million in the next 10 years”, Phil Goff says. “An added benefit of commuting by public transport is the productive use of time that “Our motorways are already locked up public transport offers, allowing during peak hours. The Ministry of Transport commuters to spend time on their laptop, reported in its briefing to the new Minister mobile, iPod and so on whilst in transit,” in December that, ‘congestion was forecast Mr Nye concluded. to increase significantly and increasingly spread throughout the working day affecting The Report found that Brisbane and the majority of trips taken on the network’. Melbourne commuters have the highest costs to own and commute to work by car “The City Rail Link and upgraded services compared with those in other capital cities, are critical to an effective transport system the reason for this is attributed to higher in Auckland. However these will not help registration, fuel and servicing prices. This those areas especially in the Central also means that commuters in these two Isthmus not served by heavy rail. cities can save the most amount of money “Ironically the situation is a back-to-the- by not owning a car and taking public future proposal, restoring light rail on many transport instead, saving an average of of the old tram routes short-sightedly $10,375 and $10,778 each year destroyed in 1956. respectively. “Light rail can carry two to three times more The full report can be found on the ARA people per hour than buses and at faster website speeds. It causes significantly less http://www.ara.net.au/UserFiles/file/15- pollution. 01-REPORT-Commuter-costs-potential- savings-report-FINAL.pdf “Intensification of population within Auckland must be preceded by new

2/02/15 9 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist infrastructure capable of coping with the $100,000 WASTE OF MONEY BY pressure growth will put on services. Across from my electorate office, for CASH-STRAPPED NEW example, the development of the Three Kings Quarry site will add 3000 new PLYMOUTH DISTRICT COUNCIL residents in just a small area putting an The Public Service Association (PSA) and additional 2000 cars on the road”, Phil Goff the EPMU, who represent New Plymouth said. District Council staff, are appalled by the “The real question is not the need for light revelation of a six figure contract gifted to rail but rather it’s as yet unidentified cost consultant Greg Timms to lead a restructure and how this cost would be met. We need of Council staffing. information on that urgently for a coherent Dolly Larkins, PSA organiser, said “that the debate on the proposal to take place. Council can find $100k for a contractor “What we already know is that Auckland defies belief when it is complaining about City’s vision of becoming the world’s most financial troubles,” liveable city cannot be achieved without a “If the chief executive wants to save money, radically improved public transport she should talk to her staff that deliver system. That relies on increasing quality services, not look externally to investment in transport infrastructure, not expensive contractors. cutting it back”, Phil Goff said. “Morale is hurting and the Council only have themselves to blame,” said Dolly Larkins. DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICIES Jen Natoli, EPMU organiser, said “New NZ Bus is reviewing their Drug and Plymouth needs good quality stable local Alcohol Policy and seeking to lessen their jobs, and the last thing Council should be obligation to provide rehabilitation to doing is getting rid of staff. employee’s and to introduce random testing. “Restructuring often ends up costing more than it saves, once the impact on morale CentrePort is also reviewing their Drug and institutional knowledge is factored in. and Alcohol policy, currently random drug testing is done with saliva testing. “Lowering staff numbers will inevitably lead CentrePort wants that to change back to to a reduction in the services New Plymouth urine testing for certain groups within the residents use and value every day,” said Jen workforce where there have been failed Natoli. tests and situations where workers have passed saliva tests but failed as urine test. C3 NAPIER AND MARSDEN POINT C3 is due to introduce its random D&A The RMTU and C3 attended a pre bargaining policy on February 9th following a period of meeting on 28 January in Tauranga. At the consultation with unions involved. Every meeting it was agreed that the parties worksite will have copies of the new policy would work constructively to settle both and workers are being asked to sign a form bargaining initiated collective agreements. acknowledging their awareness of the new The next scheduled meeting is on 11 policy. February in Tauranga. Port of Tauranga - As an outcome of the Port of Tauranga Collective Agreement Bits and Bobs negotiations and the D&A consultation the • The next Auckland Branch Meeting will Parties attended Mediation on 18 be held Sunday February 15th at the December to resolve the outstanding Athol Syms Community Centre, 11 issues of emergency provisions , the Griffin Avenue, Epsom at 0915 to 1230. testing procedure and rehabilitation. Remits for the upcoming Transdev CA Agreement was reached in the mediation will be discussed and voted on during and this agreement will be incorporated this meeting. Transdev members are into the Port’s D&A Policy. urged to attend.

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• The Port of Napier crane drivers exercise a few times in the past. Collective Agreement is up for • CentrePort was convicted under the renegotiation in June this year. The Health and Safety in Employment Act branch and members are currently 1992 following the death of a cargo working through the claims handler in January 2013. The court expectation. found there was not enough space for • The shortlisted bidders for the the two men (placing labels on bales) to Wellington Metro Train Operation have carry out their tasks, and there was no been announced by the Wellington clear, documented procedure. Regional council. They are KiwiRail / • KiwiRail has been charged with four Keolis Downer, Serco and Transdev. charges under the Health and Safety in This is no surprise and so we look Employment Act 1992. The charges forward to meeting and working with relate to incidents that occurred at the bidders to establish a meaningful Raurimu, Carterton and Masterton in relationship to enable us to negotiate 2014. The charging documents will an orderly transfer of our members specify a first Court hearing for the from KiwiRail to the new operator. To matter- likely to be late January/ early be fair we are getting practiced at this February 2015. as we have now undertaken this • New records set at Port of Tauranga by our members for the 23 day Festive Season. Largest single container lifting by weight then largest ever exchange of containers by volume and then a heavy lift record with a 73.6 tonne box. Well done guys! • The union on behalf of its members have initiated bargaining for a collective agreement for Orica Morrinsville. The members claims are based around relativity with the Mount Maunganui collective agreement. • Strait Shipping or Bluebridge are to retire the Santa Regina and will introduce the Stena Feronia. This means “a Stena everywhere” on the Strait with KiwiRail and Strait Shipping both operating ex Stena line vessels. The new

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boat will have vastly improved passenger amenities. • Auckland has agreed to push out the start date for the City Rail Link in its 10 year budget to 2018/19. The tunnel is expected to be completed in 2023. • The C3 BOP collective agreement is up for negotiation in December, this year. The parties have agreed to use the regular consultative meetings as a preparation base for the negotiations. • Jim Clarke the Waikato Rail branch’s immediate past president has resigned from KiwiRail to pursue other interests, We wish Jim all the best for his future endeavours.

LET’S BE SAFE OUT THERE & REMEMBER......

SAFETY FIRST!

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