June Newsletter Secretary’s You may have noticed that plummeting – vindicating what message Sydney’s new metro trains were we’ve been saying for years – closed for maintenance just that privatisation only erodes Dear members, 26 days after opening – raising our public transport network, serious doubts about the safe whilst filling the pockets of This month unions across NSW operation of the trains and the big end of town. The have had a massive win by how the Government has spent Government promised that preventing the Government’s $7.6 billion on a network that privatising Sydney’s buses last minute effort to rush hasn’t been able to run for more would improve on-time running through a Bill that would see than 26 days without closure. rates and improve services Roads and Maritime Services Commuters deserve a reliable overall – but the commuters vanish, and strip the amount service without regular weekend of Sydney are experiencing of long service leave that closures. anything but. public sector workers are entitled to. The Government This month new data was released showing that the In solidarity, tried to sneak this through Alex Claassens quietly in the state budget – on-time running of Sydney’s RTBU NSW Secretary but Unions NSW acted quickly privatised bus network is and together, we won. We’ve also been back in the Fair Work Commission with NSW Trains – who have essentially reneged on the promise that we secured from the Transport Minister to keeps guards on trains, “in the role of a guard”. The proposal that NSW Trains is putting to their employees has absolutely not been endorsed by the RTBU and we are gearing up to take the battle back to the Fair Work Commission again on July 5 – while we also prepare to launch another public campaign. Rail, Tram & Bus Union News Visit us at www.rtbuexpress.com.au June Newsletter Misleading Statements Government cuts to by NSW Trains Public Service LSL entitlements and RMS dissolution stopped Buried deep within this year’s state budget papers was a casual remark about future savings to the budget by reducing long service leave (LSL) entitlements for public sector workers. While this was troubling, Members may be aware that NSW Trains have no one around the union movement knew presented the RTBU with their proposed anything about it until the government operating model for the new NIF trains and introduced the bill. are now advising members of the same at their “In the Know” sessions. The State Revenue and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 went before the Legislative Now we have heard that NSW Trains management Council in June and was seeking to dissolve RMS, are touting their proposed operating model as transferring all its assets, rights, liabilities and being the result of 2 years consultation with the functions to Transport for NSW. RTBU which is disingenuous as it implies the RTBU is in agreement with their proposal. This Bill threatened to seriously undermine the rights and entitlements for our public sector To be clear, the RTBU opposes the NSW Trains workforce including RTBU members – so there proposed operating model on many grounds. was no doubt we had to fight against it – and we For a detailed update on the RTBU’s position in had to fight fast. response to Transport for NSW’s proposal, please Unions NSW immediately swung into action, read this update on RTBU Express. Be advised that working with Labor and the crossbenchers to the next hearing at the Fair Work Commission will stop the changes to long service leave, and the occur on July 5. changes to dissolve RMS, from going through. Essentially, NSW Trains have reneged on the deal that had been struck with the Transport Minister about keeping guards in their role whereby they would continue to watch trains in and out of In a big win for the workers and platforms and provide the right of way. This is tax payers of NSW - unions were absolutely unacceptable, and make no doubt, the successful in getting both changes RTBU is ramping up the fight in the Fair Work stopped by removing them from Commission this week, as well as preparing to launch another public campaign. the Bill. This is an incredible win and shows the power that we can In the meantime our members from the New Intercity Fleet will continue to be updated via email have when unions across the state bulletins – and if you’re not getting these updates, unite for a common cause. please email [email protected] Rail, Tram & Bus Union News Visit us at www.rtbuexpress.com.au June Newsletter Sydney’s buses on time New Sydney running plummets under metro closes private operation for maintenance just weeks after opening After just 26 days of operation, Sydney’s new North West metro closed over the weekend of June 22 to 23. It raises questions over the safety It is clear that the decision Babineau said. “Commuters in and efficiency of the $7.6 from the NSW Government the inner west are being robbed billion project, where to privatise buses have only of the quality bus service they commuters were forced resulted in a deterioration deserve. back onto buses with of Sydney’s public transport “We’ve seen it in Newcastle trackwork happening system. New figures in reveal and now we’re seeing it in the across multiple other that privatisation in Region 6 inner-west. When bus services rail lines over the same has led to a decrease in on- are privatised, bus stops close, weekend. time running. on-time running goes out the window, routes are cut and Meanwhile, the RTBU has Data shows the buses – now run workers’ conditions plummet.” written to Metro Trains Sydney by Transit Systems – have failed Head to RTBU Express to out of concerns raised by our to meet the on-time running key read our full media release. members that rostering and performance measure of 95 per fatigue issues are not being cent of buses running on time adequately addressed by every month since the private management. At the same company took over the contract time, we’re also getting closer in July last year. to gathering all the signatures Tram and Bus Division Secretary, needed on our Majority David Babineau, said the Support Determination figures are more evidence that petition in order to file it with when transport is privatised, the Fair Work Commission commuters and workers lose out. and force MTS to come to the table and bargain for a fair “This is exactly what happens agreement for workers. when you sell a public transport service off to the private sector – commuters lose out,” Mr Rail, Tram & Bus Union News Visit us at www.rtbuexpress.com.au June Newsletter RTBU Infrastructure Newsletter The first RTBU Infrastructure newsletter has been released for 2019. Affordable rental housing offer Head to RTBU Express to in Sydney’s north west download your copy. First State Super and Rents are set at 80% of the Automatic Train Protection ; market average and to be Welcome to the first RTBU Major Works use of Supplementary labour Echo Realty are offering Infrastructure Newsletter for and equipment; The future of our Signal mechanical members; 2019 Sydney trains Driver safety procedures for Sydney trains vehicles 2018 was a very challenging year for the RTBU The new Infrastructure worker card Infrastructure Division and its members. We had eligible, prospective tenants implementation; multiple industrial battles with various employers and Installation of new in-vehicle GPS systems; RTBU members a 20% multiple Enterprise agreement campaigns to conduct. and Competency classification structure review. Our ARTC brothers and sisters fought a long protracted battle with their employers to get a fair The division is still in ongoing discussions with Sydney and reasonable pay rise and to keep hard won Trains regarding commitments made during the must meet maximum income conditions that ARTC management wanted to strip Enterprise agreement, such as; from them. discount on 61 rental Protection officer (PO) steering committee for We also had the Sydney trains Enterprise agreement permanent protection officers in Sydney negotiations which showed the true strength of union Trains; and power by RTBU members across all divisions in Sydney Work Group Leader (WGL) and Team leader Trains demanding fair rights and conditions at work by (TL) pay grade anomaly review. and asset thresholds. taking action against the company even while under threat by the state government. Sydney Trains responded to the RTBU review of the apartments in Epping WGL and TL pay grade anomaly stating they believed Once again union members stood together in there was no discrepancy in the rates of pay across solidarity against increasingly hostile employers. the streams. In response, the RTBU created a survey which was Across the infrastructure sector of rail, again and sent out to our members regarding this review again our members have shown they will not be seeking our members insight into why they personally silenced when it comes to their rights at work. Head to RTBU Express to believed the pay grades of WGL’s and TL’s should be that they are reserving reviewed and updated. This survey can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/W6W76BS for any of our WGL and TL members who have not yet download the brochure with Industrial Matters in Sydney Trains completed it. RTBU Infrastructure members in Sydney Trains are The RTBU will not give up on this matter and will specifically for workers. currently involved in numerous negotiations on continue to fight for the rights of our members.