Member Update: 13 October

Dear Members, 

We trust that you are in good health and high spirits! It has been an eventful week for us, marked by the official relocation of our office after 30 years, as we start our move to the Pitt Street office.

Out in Newcastle, negotiations for the Light Rail agreement are still ongoing. The last proposal by Keolis Downer was voted down, and the Union is actively pushing for more concessions from the company. For the latest on this, see the article down below.

Moving on, the Union has begun the process of merging two of the existing EAs. It’ll be a complex process, see the article down below.

In the Northern Beaches area, we're continuing to focus on the issues that have emerged from the results of the Keolis Downer audit. Members have presented evidence of consistent errors, leading the Union to push for greater accountability and transparency in this matter. 

We’ve also got some updates for members for the Region 7- including EA news! Read about it down below.

And on a final note, tomorrow is Referendum Day. The Union is proud to be supporting the Yes vote, and we encourage members to visit the link below for more information on the Referendum.

As always, we hope you are staying safe and well - and if you have any issues or concerns, don't hesitate to reach out.

Office Move!

As members would be aware, the Redfern building was sold by the RTBU which means that the Tram & Bus division is leaving its home of 30 years.

We ask for your patience as we deal with the complex task of sorting through over 100 years of history from our predecessor unions as well as 30 years of the RTBU.

The division will be moving to the Branch office at Pitt St. So the entire Union is under one roof.

Newcastle Light Rail Update

After the Controller EA (Greenfield) was essentially rolled over with minimal RTBU involvement, drivers have taken a different approach and it’s definitely looking to deliver a better outcome to have the Union fighting for you!

The last proposal by the Keolis Downer was voted down by drivers and the RTBU has been pushing for more concessions from the company.

We’re not sure how much they have to give but members are motivated and keen to have concrete improvements locked in place.

Transdev Update

The RTBU has just begun the process of merging 2 existing EAs and including coverage for the new Parramatta Light Rail into a single EA. This will be a complex exercise but the workforce is looking forward to plugging up some of the long term gaps in both Agreements.

We’ve had a couple meetings as a group with all workplace reps and individually to allow each group of employees concerns to be clearly heard by Transdev.

The company has said from the beginning that they will have a gap in pay structure between the three lines to reflect the various complexities, if we can’t get rid of it then our job is to make that gap as small as possible.

Members can expect more of a presence from officials once the office move is done, and we can confirm we are looking for an organiser with a rail background to properly service our Light Rail membership going forward.

Northern Beaches

We’re still dealing with the fallout from the Keolis Downer audit results and debt collection. Since evidence provided by members has shown consistent and significant errors in the audit results, the RTBU has been pushing for more accountability from the company and better availability for supporting documents to be provided to members so they can verify debt claims themselves.

While the company has afforded a 30 min paid session (base rate) to employees who ask for it, they are not happy to provide journals for the entire period many debts cover. The reason the RTBU wants journals available is because we have seen instances where information has not been correctly input from the journal into HASTUS. HASTUS is then relied on when calculating what someone has earned, but it’s no good if it’s not right. Journals are the ultimate source of truth for the work you have done and should be paid for.

Divisional President Peter Grech is in depots next week looking to discuss issues members are having so we can provide specific information to the Fair Work Commission. Please keep an eye out and make yourself available.

Region 7 (Ryde & Willoughby) EA and other news

There’s a bit going on in Region 7. Firstly, thanks to the tireless work of the Ryde RTBU committee, particularly Ian O’Connor, Busway has agreed to pay the Uniform Allowance to ‘…qualifying employees, in the pay period ending 24/12/23.’ If anyone get’s chipped about old clothes you have no excuse, and if you see Ian around at Ryde tell him thanks!

Secondly, again at Ryde there is a Workplace Consultative Committee being set up. Employees can only nominate themselves and must have their nomination seconded. The work of the committee will be to bring operational issues to the attention of management in a controlled way and to solve as many issues as possible locally. This is serious work and we ask that anyone who nominates understands that they will be dealing with issues that affect the entire workforce.

Finally, we have been making progress on a single EA for all drivers. TfNSW has asked the company and the union to sit down and get to the bottom of what each entitlement would cost. When we nail that down we will come to members and discuss where we have landed and seek direction from the workers. After that we will take the list to TfNSW and they will take it to the Minister for approval to spend that money. As usual, it comes down to who has to pay for what.

RTBU For Yes

Tomorrow, Australians will be going to vote in the Voice Referendum, and the RTBU is proud to be supporting the Voice to Parliament.

This is about coming together and being a better nation, and having Australians really embrace our collective culture of a fair go.

As a union movement we exist to give workers – people – a voice. Our Voice is represented through bodies like the ACTU – which provide the government with our perspective and fight for our interests.

Unions have always been at the forefront of important social change and we will never shy away from that.

For those looking for more information ahead of tomorrow's vote, click here.

In solidarity, 

David Babineau and Peter Grech