RTBU EXPRESS The Official Newsletter of the Rail Divisions of the RTBU Victorian Branch VOL 1 | Issue 11 | 18 August 2014

Letter from Secretary RTBU joins arms with Korean Railways Union

Luba Grigorovitch State Secretary

Ho-joon with members of the RTBU Committees of Management

It has been a great Confederation of Trade Unions headquarters - Ho-joon gave a presentation on the strike to the honour for the RTBU which had served as a base for the strike - and the RTBU Rail Division’s Committee of Management, Victoria to host our arrests of 140 strike leaders. State Branch Executive and the and Bus comrade Ho-joon Song, a fellow trade unionist Committee of Management in May. He also from South , whilst he has visited Australia. Such shocking attacks on unions and workers’ presented at a number of work sites and at the democratic rights might seem alien to many RTBU Women’s committee meeting. He was Ho-joon Song is the Director of International Affairs RTBU members and Australian workers, but is strongly received, and at the end of each meeting and representative abroad for the Korean Railway not uncommon in where the state a motion was passed in solidarity with the Korean Workers’ Union (KRWU), the RTBU’s sister union suppression of unions and human rights violations Railway Workers’ Union’s struggle in South Korea . He has been staying in Melbourne remains commonplace. While South Korea has against privatisation. for the past 3 months as part of a visit organised by nominally been a parliamentary democracy the RTBU, the Transport Worker’s Union and the since the end of military rule in 1987, the country’s It is noteworthy that the RTBU, TWU and MUA came Maritime Union Australia through the International elected governments have continued to be together with transport unions across the world Transport Worker’s Federation (ITF). During his influenced by the authoritarian practices of the through the ITF to vocally support the KRWU during stay in Melbourne, Ho-joon had the opportunity of country’s military and wealthy elite, particularly the strike - this placed significant pressure on the visiting our Union office and members’ work sites, when it comes to dealing with organised labour. The South Korean Government from abroad. as well as historical sites of the labour movement everyday dominance of corporate forces in South in Victoria such as Trades Hall and the 8 Hour Korean society and its demands on the productivity On behalf of the RTBU I would like once again to Monument. He also visited our National Office of workers has strongly influenced the desire of the thank Ho-joon Song for the time he spent with in Sydney. South Korean Government and establishment to our union over the last 3 months and affirm my attack labour at every opportunity. solidarity with the Korean Railways Workers’ Union Ho-joon Song’s visit has been organised by in their ongoing struggle against privatisation and the KRWU and its fraternal transport unions in The railway workers strike received widespread for democratic and human rights. As railway trade Australia following a drawn out and bravely-fought support from other Korean unions and the Korean unionists we stand firmly with the KRWU in their strike by railway workers in his home country. The public as well as strong international support. The ongoing fight. strike began in December last year in opposition RTBU along with the MUA and the TWU rallied in to plans by the South Korean Government to support of the Korean transport workers over privatise a large portion of the Korean rail network. Christmas 2013. The 23 day strike forced the Up to 15,000 members of the Korea Railroad government and to call a truce with the KRWU Corporation’s (Korail) workforce voted to walk off and the question of whether or not rail privatisation the job in response to these plans on December 9, will proceed is now a matter of political contention. Luba Grigorovitch which they recognised as a threat to the future of Since then the KRWU has continued to face attacks State Secretary public . During the 23 day - Korail is now seeking to seize the union’s financial strike that ensued, these rail workers and the KRWU assets, and the KRWU’s headquarters was burned faced a barrage of attacks from the government down under suspicious circumstances earlier this and their employers, including the hiring of scab year. Over 250 rail workers have been sacked, which labour and the sacking of over 4,000 workers the KRWU continue to support. for belonging to the union. This culminated on December 22 in a police raid on the Korean

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Kath Larkin morning tea were donated to the Breast Cancer home made wheat bags can be warmed up Grant Wainwright and shelved until a more reasonable offer has know what it was, testing which gave results RTBU Women’s Officer Network. A number of our members have been in a microwave (as per safety instructions on Organiser been produced. inconclusive with peoples actual abilities- but affected by this all-too-common illness. Some packaging) and kept in pockets to keep you warm what was really beyond a joke and unacceptable RTBU Women aims to Kath Larkin The Union is now in possession of draft rosters time ago RTBU Women organised to defend and on cold days! Anne is selling the product for $5 to the RTBU is that if you were not on the Merit List engage more women in RTBU Women’s Officer for the city loop stations. These rosters appear support members who were being mistreated each with all money going towards Australian you wouldn’t be given the opportunity to apply for being active members of to abide by the EBA and the above principles. at work while undergoing treatment for breast Prostate Cancer Research and Breast Cancer After the last round of a full time position for 12 months. the union as a whole by This is a step forward. However there are ongoing cancer. This was a win for all members who Network Australia. To purchase hand warmers rosters in the northern providing them a space negotiations around some of the finer details such The Merit List has now been knocked off. Following face serious illness. please contact the union office. group which included to discuss issues in their as start/finish times, overlap time between shifts the last 12 positions from the 100 agreed full time extended hours and workplace. RTBU Women This year RTBU Women would like to invite all Flag Competition to allow sufficient time for hand over and going conversions the Merit List will no longer be in negatively affected our has been hosting monthly meetings around the members, men and women to join us for the through all of the numbers in each station with a effect. This will allow all members equal ability to Our flag competition continues. Entries are due in members, Metro has agreed to produce EBA network. In these meetings we’ve discussed morning tea – with funds raised going to both fine tooth comb. apply for full time jobs and/or promotions going by Tuesday 30 October, the winning design to be compliant rosters. As a result of delegate and problems with amenities, dealing with disciplinary breast and prostate cancer research. into the future. This will include any new vacancies revealed at the Cancer Research Morning Tea. members agitation at the workplace level and procedures, how to tackle bullying and Staffing Levels coming out of the back of this process, such as The details are; ongoing negotiations between the Union and much more. Each Division of the union has their own flag: The According to Metro’s franchise agreement, they backfill for staff who move on to new positions. We RTBU CANCER RESEARCH MORNING TEA Metro, Metro has confirmed rosters will adhere to Rail division, Locomotive division and the Tram are required to have a minimum 986 station have fought to ensure that where front line station Some of our upcoming activities are listed below: Where: RTBU Executive Room the following principles: and Bus division. RTBU women is proudly made heads. Metro claimed when they came into staff are concerned any new recruitments will Level 2, 356 Queen St Melbourne up of a cross section of members from all these • No new additional or newly created shifts will operation that they would increase the numbers be part time LSAs, so the existing staff are given Next Meeting Date: Wednesday 26 November Divisions and we would like one flag to stand extend beyond 8 hours. to 1,888. However this number has never been priority in advancing their careers. Time: 10.30am Flinders Street Station, Station Masters behind in honour of this. met. At no point have Metro gone above 920 • Members will retain at minimum the same Process Conference room. Tuesday 2 September Fundraising Initiative positions. Metro is proposing that the new Enquires/Designs to be sent to: earnings, grade and entitlements such as at 10.30am. All RTBU women members are rosters will provide for 1,020 positions. We’re Our station proposition subcommittee made up Further to the above, one our members Anne [email protected] sick leave and EDO’s as their current roster encouraged to attend. happy to see increased numbers in the station of delegates and organisers are working on these Emms has developed her own fundraising OR allows. grades to decrease the burden on our members rosters at the moment. When we feel we have a Cancer research Morning Tea initiative to join in with the efforts of the morning PO BOX 4716 • There will be no job losses or displacement and provide more jobs. However it is our job to reasonable proposal on the table, we will bring in tea. Anne has produced pocket hand warmers MELBOURNE VIC 3001 RTBU Women host an annual morning tea for of staff created by the new roster ensure this happens in a fair way and does not all the relevant delegates and if the rosters meet (developed with station staff in mind). The all members. Last year the proceeds from this disadvantage our current members. their approval- said rosters will be taken to station • Members will retain day off patterns meetings. Our members will have the opportunity including the 4 days or 5 days off that Full Time Conversions to scrutinise the rosters, give feedback and then members were keen to protect. With members sick of being left in part time vote on the proposed rosters. The ultimate and ON THE SPOT PENALTY INFRASTRUCTURE • Annual leave relief ratios to be at least 1 for positions, the RTBU fought to increase the final say on the rosters belongs, as it should, to the PROJECTS UPDATES every 8 staff number of full time jobs and meaningful training membership as a whole who will be made to work schemes. So far of the 100 Full time conversions these rosters. FARE UPDATE • Costing will be done on a confidential basis we negotiated, 88 have been filled, with 12 more and members will be able to access the Incolink/C-Bus to go. These 12 will be taken from the Merit List. figures of what they will be earning. Darren Galea 1. Roster Alignment All members please check that your Incolink/ Recruitment To this point Metro has not been able to draft Organiser Super is being paid up by your employer. This is to apply to all current AO’s without an EDO reasonable rosters for the “1 up” station locations. Throughout the process station staff have voiced It is important that your funds are up to As Authorised Officers and all future new starts with an implementation They showed us proposals including 7 hour their disapproval of the Merit List. The whole date. Please contact your organiser for a (AO’s) would know, date of 7 September 2014. Monday-Friday shifts with some weekend shifts process which we were made to go through was confidential meeting to discuss. the RTBU has been over ten hours. These drafts have been rejected utterly ludicrous- apply for a job when you didn’t 2. Additional Annual Training for AO’s in negotiations with Timesheets management in relation to It should be noted that discussions are still After a long battle with Sunstone Resources the implementation of the ongoing between Darren Galea, RTBU Organiser common sense has prevailed. Although just On the Spot Penalty Fares. and Paul D’Alessio, Manager Customer Services – a band aid fix, our members can now scan I am pleased to announce that following an AO AO’s in relation to the detail of this training. delegates meeting it has been agreed that AO’s and email their timesheets in, instead of will participate in the roll-out of the On the Spot Thank you to all members involved in this win. our members having to drive up to a 2 hour Farewell Michael Overend Penalty Fares which commenced on Sunday If any Authorised Officers have any queries or turnaround trip – costing fuel and tolls. The 10 August. questions please don’t hesitate to call me Union cannot understand why a phone app on 0407 512 494 has taken Sunstone so long – we would like to Grant Wainwright Organiser This follows a letter which the RTBU received from thank our members for their patience Metro confirming the following agreed matters: and understanding. Last week alongside State Secretary Luba Grigorovitch members farewelled Michael Overend. Michael is a former organiser with the ARU/RTBU and returned to work in the station and Signalling Grades.

Michael was thanked for his tireless efforts representing workers across all grades. We look forward to catching up with Michael when he joins the retired members group. Tony Matuszak Organiser Infrastructure Projects We wish Michael well in his retirement. RTBU members join together to wish Michael Overend farewell

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Contact us State Secretary Rail Operations Division Infrastructure / Luba Grigorovitch Organiser: Darren Galea Workshops rtbuvic.com.au Organiser: Paul Ferraro (03) 9600 3030 Rail Operations / OH&S, Industrial and Administration Administration Officer In-House Lawyer Level 2, 365 Queen Street, Organiser: Grant Wainwright Thomas Moorhead Rima Tawil Melbourne, VIC 3000 Infrastructure Division Admin & Salaried Division Organiser Infrastructure E [email protected] Secretary: Kevin Killender Organiser: Bryan Evans Projects F 03 9600 3363 Tony Matuszak Admin and Salaried Workshops Division Division Secretary: Paul Jumpertz Secretary: Steven Kozmevski