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Member Update: March 11, 2022
Dear Members,
The east coast of Australia was battered by torrential rain with whole communities submerged. To those who are affected by, or know someone who is being affected by the floods, we send you strength and resilience through this and as the recovery and rebuilding efforts begin.
The RTBU, has set up a GoFund Me fundraiser for members who have been impacted by this extreme weather event. This is a union-wide initiative lead by the National Office.
An application must be submitted no later than 30 April 2022 to a Panel for consideration for a gift of up to $1,000 from the monies raised by the fund. View and download the application form here.
You can also make a contribution to the GoFundMe by clicking here.
The balls are still rolling on a number of EAs.
Members at the Port Botany, Waverley and Randwick depots in Region 9 had depot meetings with delegates and officials this week with an overview of the list of major changes to the draft EA. Members in the East are voting to provisionally approve the draft EA. This is ONLY THE BEGINNING and feedback is encouraged when members have had time to review the draft more completely.
In Region 6, the process continues to bog down with little to no progress.
In Region 7, the first bargaining meeting has been scheduled for the 25th of March 2022 and we’ll report back on that.
And in Newcastle, Keolis Downer Newcastle put forward a a proposed Enterprise Agreement to replace the expired 2017 agreement. The Negotiation Committee will be out and about visiting depots next week to discuss next steps.
Members are also invited to Save the Date for our Farewell BBQ following the resignation of Belmont Delegate Robin O'Donoghue. All are invited as we celebrate Robin's time at the RTBU and her brilliant achievements! You'll find a flyer with the details at the end of this Express.
In the news, the train shutdown sage continues and the focus has shifted to clarifying exactly how internal communications at with TfNSW and the Transport Minister David Elliot actually went down. This comes after the RTBU earned a win and shifted the warped picture that TfNSW was originally trying to paint. A news article with the latest update on this debacle is included in this express.
We hope that you continue to stay safe and well.
Region 9 update
Depot meetings with delegates and officials took place this week at Port Botany, Waverley and Randwick to discuss the draft EA. These meetings ran through the list of major changes that was sent to members on Wednesday.
Our informal vote is taking place today via an on-site ballot and members have been strongly encouraged to have their say. As discussed, this vote is for members to tell us if we’re on the right track with the draft, and while the union sees this roadmap as the best way to preserve our conditions and avoid a two-tiered workplace, we can’t get this done without feedback. Feel free to send emails to us here or other correspondence via delegates. A further series of depot meetings will happen after Transdev takes over and we have fine tuned things to the satisfaction of the members.
About 2 months after transition, a formal vote will take place.
Region 7 Log of Claims survey
The survey to compile a Log of Claims for workers in region 7 is now complete. We’re collating the results and will have a bulletin for Region 7 members next week. The first bargaining session is set for the 25th of March 2021, and the company has made it clear that they are seeking to have one set of conditions for all employees going forward and that they want this process done by the end of the year. Unlike the debacle in Region 6, if both parties are committed to bargaining in good faith, this is definitely something that can be achieved.
The RTBU bargaining committee will consist of the Ryde and Willoughby delegates, Lizanne Bennett our industrial officer and David Babineau the divisional Secretary. As we do with all the Agreements we negotiate, any final product will be reviewed by lawyers to ensure o potential outcomes have been missed.
Region 6 Bargaining update
This week your bargaining representatives met with Transit Systems on Tuesday the 8th of March. Unfortunately, the imminent transition of Region 9 in the East has meant a lot of depot meetings there so unfortunately a bulletin was not able to be sent.
The negotiation meeting was taken up with discussion about the TWU Agreement that the #900 drivers work under. The company refuses to bargain for a single set of conditions for all employees and are standing firm against the idea of the Copied State Award being the basis for negotiation. Because of this it got a little ridiculous. We’d discuss a section of the #900 driver conditions and would put forward the Copied State Award version instead, to which the company would say no. It seems like we’re driving in circles, so region 6 delegates and officials are having a strategy meeting with lawyers next week to discuss options going forward.
Now that the TWU have dedicated more resources to Region 6 and are actively leading their members and conducting depot meetings etc, a united plan of action can be out together that maximises our strength and sends a clear message to the company, government and public. Bus drivers need more than the ‘thanks for your work in the pandemic’, thanks are free to give, what we need are fair conditions for all workers!
A bulletin will follow the planning meeting next week.
Newcastle EA Update
BREAKING NEWS...
Earlier this afternoon, Keolis Downer Newcastle put forward to the RTBU a proposed Enterprise Agreement to replace the expired Keolis Downer Newcastle Bus Operations Enterprise Agreement 2017.
The Negotiation Committee will be out and about attending depots next Monday and Tuesday to get members' thoughts on this proposal.
We will keep you updated as things progress.
Save the date: THANK YOU ROBIN!
The RTBU thanks Belmont depot delegate of Robin O’Donoghue for her service to the union and her members at Belmont bus depot.
All RTBU members are invited to attend a Thank You BBQ being held for Robin:
When: Sunday 3rd April, 10am-2pm
Where: Speers Point Park
RTBU Flood Relief
Recent flood across Australia have ripped through many communities leaving many RTBU members impacted and even losing their houses and deeply impacting their lives.
The RTBU has organised a GoFundMe to support specifically RTBU members affected by these floods.
You can make a contribution here: https://gofund.me/f2c36586
Hunter Workers International Women’s Day March 2022
Leanne Holmes, RTBU National Organiser and Newcastle Local, will be leading the Hunter Workers International Women’s Day March in Newcastle this Saturday. The march will travel along King Street to Civic Park.
When: Saturday 12 March, 10:00am
Where: Birdwood Park
All members are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP Leanne through the Facebook page here or give her a call for more information.
News: Adapt trams to run on different lines, government says
The NSW government is looking to integrate Sydney’s two light rail lines so trams from the CBD and eastern suburbs line can run permanently on the troubled inner west line to make the operations more flexible. This followed reports of cracking on the inner west light rail trams in October last year.
The state’s transport agency has revealed it is in discussions with the private consortium responsible for the inner west and the CBD and eastern suburbs lines about the “option of a mixed fleet operation”.
Transport for NSW said that running a mixed fleet permanently on the inner west line would provide more flexibility and resilience during major maintenance, as well as provide an option for extra capacity for major events.
News: Free buses for Lismore and Ballina to help flood-affected residents
Flood-affected residents in Lismore and Ballina who need to access essential services are being supported with free bus services, which begin operating from today.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the NSW Government has chartered buses to allow residents who have lost everything, including their own transport, to access nearby support facilities.
Transport for NSW will began operating these services at 9am on Wednesday 9 March and will increase their frequency if demand requires.
News: Texts reveal NSW Transport Minister’s deep rift
Below is an update on the trains shutdown saga that saw the RTBU, especially the Locomotive Division, successfully flip the negative narrative that TfNSW sought to get away with.
Text messages have revealed a deep rift between NSW Transport Minister David Elliott and his most senior public servant. A parliamentary hearing last Friday heard communications between senior public servants and the Minister broke down ahead of Sydney’s chaotic train shutdown.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union has previously claimed that trains could have run safely despite plans for limited industrial action.
The union is in talks with the government over a new enterprise agreement and has made demands about pay, hygiene and privatisation of services.
TfNSW Mandatory vaccination policy final update
A reminder this story only applies to members in Region 9 bus depots.
The RTBU has agreed on a settlement with TfNSW regarding the COVIDSafe policy dispute. Because the settlement is confidential, the union not able to discuss the matter publicly.
Members can rest assured that the entire executive voted to accept the offer and the RTBU is confident that this is the best outcome the union could secure for affected members.
Thanks for your essential work during a time of crisis.
In solidarity,
David Babineau and Daniel Jaggers
