Rail & Maritime Transport Union Volume 2020 Issue 6

Published Regularly - ISSN 1178-7392 (Print & Online) 24 April 2020

LEVEL 4 - NEW ZEALAND UNITED TOGETHER : WORKERS’ MEMORIAL DAY 28 APRIL 2020 IS CURRENTLY AT COVID Workers’ Memorial Day coincides with the ALERT LEVEL 4. NZ first day of NZ’s transition to level 3 Covid 19 emergency response. As more people return TRANSITIONS TO LEVEL 3 to work this is a poignant reminder that Workers’ Memorial Day is AT 2359 HRS 27 APRIL. about remembering those who have lost their lives due to poor Your Union staff and workplace safety delegates continue to systems, and continue work from home on our fight for the highest your behalf to ensure standards of health and that all members are safety protection. It treated lawfully and is also a reminder that fairly during these everyone is under unusual and uncertain stress, the personal times we find effects of which are a ourselves in. hazard in itself. Looking out for ANZAC DAY – each other, showing DIFFERENT BUT kindness and always working safely has REMEMBERED never been more important. The RSA and New Zealand Defence Force have called We will observe on New Zealanders to Workers’ Memorial Day remember our service a little differently this men and women, at 6am year. Physical on Saturday 25 April, by distancing is still vital standing at your to stamp out the letterbox, front door, in spread of the disease your lounge rooms, so we won’t be able to balconies, or driveways to gather for events like take a moment to remember our fallen – we normally would. while staying within our bubbles. Instead, we encourage you to join with our More information can be found at local and international union brothers and https://www.standatdawn.com sisters to light a candle at midday on the 28th April and post a photo on the RMTU social media pages.

2 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist

Our message is all workplace accidents are make people redundant than apply for the preventable, we work safely, we are subsidy." kind and we will look after each other. "At the core of our concern is that people’s life and work outcomes depend on both the COVID-19: LEAVE SUBSIDY goodwill of the employer and the employer’s CHANGES - NEEDS TO GO ability to navigate a reasonably complex new system of Government support. The FURTHER Government needs to make in clear in their advice to business that businesses should The Council of Trade Unions welcomes the pick up available wage subsidies for ‘at-risk’ government’s announcement to extend the people much stronger. ‘At-risk’ people need leave subsidy as part of the package to to have their rights to support guaranteed, support working people through the rather than depend on their employer to do consequences of the COVID-19 virus. the right thing," Wagstaff said. However, the CTU believes more can be done to support working people. WORKSAFE NZ ADVICE FOR CTU President, Richard Wagstaff is pleased that the ‘at-risk’ subsidy has been provided. PHYSICAL DISTANCING UNDER "This is certainly a positive. Working people LEVEL 3 who are ‘at-risk’ of serious harm, whether it’s because of their age, a compromised Worksafe NZ has updated their guidance on immune system, or any other health physical distancing under a level 3 alert level. condition, should be supported by the They say in an uncontrolled government to stay home and stay safe. It environment such as public transport a is appropriate and fair that this has been distance of 2 metres physical distance provided." between the public is required. "But a problem remains with a system that Worksafe say in the workplace physical relies on employers to do the right thing and distancing can be reduced below 2 metres apply for the subsidy in the first place. providing sufficient safety mitigations are in Unfortunately, in relation to other subsidies, place. They give the examples of engineering the last few weeks have exposed that some controls such as screens or personal employers would prefer to simply make protective equipment such as masks and employees redundant, than pass on, let gloves. alone top up government subsidies aimed at Employers must adhere to their obligations supporting working Kiwis. There remains a under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 problem when some employers would rather to take all reasonably practicable steps such

24-APR-20

3 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist as disinfecting surfaces and make sure plan is working in practice and identifying workers don’t come to work sick. ways that safety can be enhanced to protect staff from potential exposure to Covid 19. For more Worksafe guidance go their website https://worksafe.govt.nz/managing- health-and-safety/novel-coronavirus-covid- RMTU ONLINE 19/transitioning-from-alert-level-4/ With the unions physical offices closed and union staff working remotely there are plenty MARITIME NZ of opportunities for EMPORARY members, delegates and T Organisers to meet EXEMPTIONS online. This also applies for branch, sectors and Due to Covid 19 Industrial councils’ reps Maritime NZ are to keep in contact and granting temporary for meetings with the exemptions on annual employers. The union examinations on lifting office staff have been appliances on foreign using Zoom successfully, ships in NZ waters. The KiwiRail use Microsoft exemption is for Teams but even examinations that were Messenger will work ok due between 11 March for online meetings. 2020 and 30 June 2020. Both Zoom and Microsoft Teams just need a The vessel’s lifting download, a meeting appliances and loose scheduled and then gear must be safe for use and will be email invitations to join. subject to the normal testing procedures conducted by NZ stevedores or their For Zoom go to - https://zoom.us/download representatives. If vessels meet all the and Microsoft Teams - conditions listed on the Maritime NZ website https://products.office.com/en-nz/microsoft- they can be given a three month extension teams/group-chat-software from the expiry date of the annual If you need help to set up then contact one of examination or test certificate. the team, we are becoming experts - Full details of the exemptions and their http://www.rmtunion.org.nz/contact/contact conditions are at _details_national_office.php or https://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/commercial/s http://www.rmtunion.org.nz/contact/contact hips/default.asp _details_branch_offices.php CLEANING SURFACES AGAINST KIWIRAIL HEALTH AND SAFETY COVID 19 UNDER LEVEL 3 Droplets containing the Covid 19 virus are too To support a safe return to work under level large to stay in the air for long, so they quickly 3, KRG with input from the Union has settle on surrounding surfaces. The virus has developed a Site-Specific COVID-19 Plan been found ‘live’ on plastic and stainless before work can commence under on steel surfaces for up to three days KiwiRail sites. This will be communicated to members at the safety stop meetings Surfaces or objects that are frequently starting Tuesday 28th April. touched by others should be cleaned before and after a person touches them – clean it The check-sheet includes verification that first (e.g. handles, levers, steering wheels in the Covid 19 protocols are in place and well pool vehicles, door knobs, shared desks and communicated. Union Delegate and H&S phones). Reps should be involved in verifying that the

24-APR-20

4 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist

Cleaning products assist them to provide health and safety leadership and compliance with the Health • Use a disinfectant that is antiviral. and safety at Work legislation. This is a non- • Surfaces need 10 seconds of soaking assessed online training course. with the disinfectant for it to work. • For phones, radios and other more For more information go to delicate surfaces, soak a disposable https://worksafereps.co.nz/health-and- towel or cloth and wipe the surfaces safety-courses-online/ or ring 0800 336 966 thoroughly. • Use clean cloths or disposable towels to KIWIRAIL (FREIGHT) INDUSTRIAL wipe surfaces. COUNCIL UPDATE The most effective antiviral sanitisers are: The KIC meeting planned for 28th and 29th • Products containing Hypochlorite April has been postponed due to travel • Activated Hydrogen Peroxide restrictions, a video conference with the KIC • Standard Bleach reps and management will be organised in the • Products containing an alcohol i.e. next few weeks. ethanol or isopropyl • Methylated spirits can also be used NORTHERN REGION Hand sanitiser should contain at least 60% isopropyl alcohol to be effective. ONLINE HEALTH AND SAFETY Although the RMTU has put aside its TRAINING differences with TDAK to deal with the ongoing AVAILABLE Covid-19 Crisis, we are still not engaging with the Due to the inability to Company regarding the run face to face HP2 process around training during Driver Door Operation as lockdown, Worksafe well as the ROM Reps are offering two rewrite. The reason for of their training this has been an issue of courses online for trust and confidence. The H&S Reps and new COO Gary Iddon is Managers attempting to be more Online Stage 1 cooperative and (initial) Health and transparent but there are Safety Rep training some outstanding issues that need to be resolved. This online course equips HSRs with the A prime example of why skills to promote a we lack trust in the safer and healthier place of work and also Company occurred regarding a memo sent covers Unit Standard 29315. Successful out. There is a real problem with this memo. completion of the unit standard (via the In particular the part that says: assessed quiz and fillable PIN) allows an “You should take sick leave if: HSR to exercise their powers to issue provisional improvement notices (PINs) and • You have tested positive for COVID-19, and direct unsafe work to cease. you are still suffering the symptoms, and/or Team Leader/Manager /Supervisor H&S training The aim of this course is to provide Team Leaders, Managers and Supervisors with skills knowledge and competency that will

24-APR-20

5 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist you are still within a recommended isolation the matter has been resolved that there will period” be no changing from one bubble to another. This contradicts an earlier memo sent to The new C3 Collective Agreement has been employees on the App on March 17th at ratified and the Terms of settlement have 1.58pm that stated: been signed off. C3 are currently updating the new Collective and hopefully it will be signed “Special Leave (80 hours) at your base rate, off after the Lockdown has ended. pro-rated for part-timers) will be provided to people that have been diagnosed with A big thanks to the RMTU negotiating team Covid-19, or that have been directed to for working thru a very tough set of isolate themselves (by a doctor) following negotiations and a big thank you to the RMTU exposure to a person that has a positive members who fully supported diagnosis of Covid-19” the negotiation team through the negotiations and thanks for your patience. We had previously issued bouquet’s for TDAK around their handling of the crisis but this about face, over something that was SOUTHERN REGION promised to employees, is extremely disappointing as it reneges on a promise PORT ’S COVID19 CASE: made to TDAK employees in the earlier memo. This is what we are dealing with. A PORT WORKER SPEAKS. Port Otago had a confirmed COVID19 case in BOP REGION the Marine Department a couple of weeks ago. Because the department was working in C3 an ‘intact work bubble’ there has been no detected spread of the virus amongst the We have resolved one of the issues which is workmates of the man who contracted that of paying those employees who are at COVID19. Port Otago recently published his home because they are either vulnerable story in their staff newsletter. It is sobering workers or there is no work for them. If their reading and a reminder to us all just how income is less than the wages subsidy they serious this situation is and why we should will receive the difference between the practice good hygiene, physical distancing subsidy and their income. and maintain the integrity of our bubble. We still have not resolved the question of We quote the story here: the definition of “usual pay pre COVID-19” M is 52 years old, very fit, has no health however we are awaiting advice from MBIE issues and lives with his wife and their 17- on the issue. year old daughter. The good news is the return of logs to the When did you first become aware that you wharves under level three, how work will may be infected? proceed in a safe manner will be resolved this week. I got a text from my wife within 5 minutes of talking to my supervisor – saying that people There has been a lively debate on whether we knew had tested positive after a wedding workers can move from one work bubble to we attended (the Bluff wedding). I’d just another, which is an issue at Sulphur Point,

24-APR-20

6 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist walked out of the office building and knew into decisions about the future of this iconic the right thing to do was not to go back in. tourist attraction. What was your reaction? 51 staff are likely to lose their job under a mothball plan announced by I phoned my manager immediately. My wife Railways Limited Chairman Kevin Winders. was already feeling unwell, but I still felt fine. When I got home, we rang Healthline and were tested at 9am the next day. My RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson says wife and I were both positive, but our the announcement is not a surprise, but is daughter came back negative. disappointing. How did things play out? “The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic is unprecedented, and there have to be changes By Sunday, I had symptoms, then fevers to operations. However, those changes Monday, Tuesday and should reflect a broad, long- Wednesday nights. My term view about the value of temperature was 39.7° this iconic attraction.” (normal is 37°), so I was cooking. I had Innovative thinking was hallucinations one night. I required around came a bit right, but still passenger/commuter rail had tiredness and fatigue. operations using current staff Then I got a bit of an and rolling stock, he says. annoying cough. A The Labour-led Coalition Healthline nurse was calling Government was moving fast every second day and she on investment in suggested calling my infrastructure to offset the doctor. We did a video call downturn, and the Green and the doctor thought it Party had just made an was bronchitis – a common excellent case for new rail consequence of Covid – and services for major centres in she prescribed me an New Zealand. inhaler. “A forward looking council in I’m still off work now, with Dunedin must work with the the cough. Our daughter Government to explore any and all was re-tested two days later, after opportunities to prevent long term economic developing symptoms and was positive. damage to the Otago region.” That was actually a relief for all of us, as it The cost of restarting rail operations, had been stressful for her trying to stay especially finding skilled staff, would be separate. I was concerned for my wife and considerable, says Mr Butson. daughter, because I considered myself the The longer mothballing went on, the greater fittest and healthiest – but it hit me the danger the iconic brand would lose its profile, hardest. It’s true what the say – that the and company assets would inevitably virus doesn’t discriminate. It affects degrade. everyone differently. Within our family, none of us had the same set of symptoms. In the future, domestic tourism may increase and international visitors would return to SET TO GO some degree, he says. The Railway was linked to the Central Otago Rail INTO ‘MOTHBALL’ AND SACK Trail and was a major attraction for the Otago OVER 50 STAFF region, and could not be viewed simply as a standalone business. The RMTU represents almost all operational Dunedin Railways is now under the full staff on the Taieri Gorge railway and we are ownership of Dunedin City Holdings Ltd, the urging the Dunedin City Council not to rush business arm of the Dunedin City Council. The RMTU will be mounting a campaign to try and

24-APR-20

7 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist preserve as many jobs as possible and to different but we agree with the principles save this piece of track and the rolling stock. behind an HPHE approach. It will be an interesting and challenging LYTTELTON PORT MANAGEMENT project but if we are successful there are KEEN TO DEVELOP HIGH potential rewards for both parties in increased productivity, better profitability, more job PERFORMANCE HIGH security and improved wages and terms and ENGAGEMENT conditions. One urgent piece of work we need to get done is adopting and implementing a There is never a dull moment at LPC. fatigue management system at the port. Recently the RMTU have crossed swords The port sector may look very different in the with management over the preservation of post COVID19 and the RMTU sees HPHE as intact work bubbles in the Container one tool for increasing workers’ opportunities. Terminal and the Mechanical Workshop with mixed results. START OF THE MONTH OF In the Container Terminal there are still concerns about the use of causal labour and RAMADAN some staff working across shifts. Our Greetings to all our members who are advocacy around this is often undermined by celebrating the month of Ramadan. This year, the fact that there are two unions in that it will be a very different experience for area and we don’t always adopt a united Muslims around the world as we all adapt to approach. The benefits for rank and file changing circumstances during the COVID-19 workers of one union on the waterfront are pandemic. Ramadan activities will be never as clearly demonstrated as at times restricted to the home in many countries like this. while we continue to live apart during In the workshop there is one union, the lockdown. RMTU. We have a number of very high Ramadan is a time for unity and solidarity, for calibre delegates and our Branch President strengthening family and community ties, and and National Management for helping people in need. The coronavirus Committee Representative also works there. crisis has reminded us all of the importance Consequently, we were able to ensure the of family and friends, and we have seen intact work bubble was maintained in that numerous examples of people supporting area despite a move by management to neighbours as well as strangers. Transport introduce another worker into it. The story workers have been praised for working about the worker at Port Otago who tirelessly for the community in often contracted COVID19 was front and centre of challenging circumstances, as they move our members’ minds when we discussed this essential goods and help key workers to get with management. Fortunately, to work. In order to keep us going they are management saw sense and we reached risking their own health and sadly, in some agreement and kept our work bubbles cases, even their lives. intact. Ramadan is a timely reminder of the role of Despite these differences of opinion both the transport workers. Together we will help each RMTU and management have expressed our other through this crisis in order to jointly desire for a strategic relationship and a emerge on the other side. willingness to try the High Performance High Engagement approach that both parties One again, we wish you and your families and have experience of elsewhere. The new LPC colleagues a Happy Ramadan. CEO is ex- and has worked in an HPHE environment there. The RMTU E AFE E EALTHY AND has had success with HPHE at KiwiRail and B S , B H has experience of this approach with BE KIND! Transdev in Auckland. Discussions indicate our experiences and expectations are

24-APR-20