News and views from the bus and tram lanes No images? Click here Member Update: October 21 2022Dear Members, Remembering Jared ChurchThank you to the members who have dug deep to contribute to the Go Fund Me Page we set up for Jared Church, who tragically passed away at age 37. Thank you again to members who have already donated - your support is much appreciated during this tough time. Email the NSW Government to end Bus PrivatisationLast month, the NSW Legislative Assembly handed down a report recommending the Government end bus privatisation. You can read the full report and its recommendation here. We've known that bus privatisation doesn't work. No one knows this better than our members and commuters, who have both suffered. That's why we've set up an action calling on the NSW Government to adopt the report's recommendations. You can add your name to our letter and help add pressure on the NSW Government to fix the mess they've made. It'll only take a moment, and the more emails we send, the greater our chance of making bus privatisation an issue for the election and beyond. Region 7 EA UpdateThe last bargaining meeting with Busways was held on Thursday, 20th October 2022. At this meeting, the company provided some good information on how much certain items would cost- like five weeks annual leave for all employees (not just ex-STA), etc., concerning how much they had bid for the contract. While we’re not limited by what they offered to perform the work for, it has to be something we consider when discussing the cost of certain claims. The next meeting is currently scheduled for late next week, and depot meetings are being planned for the week after to discuss where we’re at. We are fast approaching the point where members will need to have serious thoughts about what they want to fight for and what they can live with. A few things to remember- We still have the two-tiered workplace in effect, and they just haven’t made two separate rosters. The company is still pushing 13-hour brokens. We’ll be looking at the option of industrial action when we have achieved everything we can through negotiations. You cannot take industrial action if you are not a Union member. If workers want to fight, then they need to JOIN THE UNION.
CMET EA UpdateWe’re waiting on the company to send us a draft document to go over. As soon as they do, we’ll start the process of reviewing it to make sure that the agreed changes have been put in and that no other changes have been made. While the company wants it to go out for a vote as soon as possible there are things that need to be finalised. For example, there was a commitment from CMET that in the proposed Grade restructure no one would be worse off. That means a way must be found to make sure not just that no one is worse off financially, but worse off in spending longer on a Grade than they would have otherwise. When we receive the document, and it looks like that will happen next week, we’ll let members know and start the work to review it. Region 9 UpdateToday RTBU delegates and officials met with KDNB about the audit and payroll issues. The company advised that the audit was running behind schedule and the auditor needed more time. In consideration of this, the union has asked for and the company agreed, that they will not chase any overpayment made after the 6th of August 2022. This will not go on forever, and the timeframe will probably be in line with the fixing of the system errors. The system solutions are in the process of being rolled out in stages. The first stage should fix most of the errors and is being rolled out now. KDNB says they expect that to be done mid-November, with the final stage being done by the end of the year. January will be for testing that everything is fixed and that no systemic pay issues are being created. We’ve also been working on a better timesheet that gives drivers a simpler and more accessible version of the daily breakdown of their pay. It is apparently still impossible to have the payslips like they used to be with STA and currently we are more focused on helping them fix the pay nightmares. We’ll see how the planned changes help people keep track of their earnings. The company will be conducting meetings to explain how things are progressing and to give employees an opportunity to ask questions about the process. We’ll continue to do whatever we can to help them get this right. Wickham Trams EA UpdateNegotiations to replace the existing Enterprise Agreement should commence in late October/early November. In the meantime here is a reminder of the broad log of claims. 1. Keep all current entitlements and conditions in current EA 2. Seek real pay increase to reflect a living wage 3. Enhance flexibility within rosters to accomodate work/ life balance 4. Provision for KDH to reimburse medical costs for members associated with maintaining their employment 5. To include a consultation clause so members can have input into structural, policy and other changes Keolis Downer Hunter make that affect working conditions 6. To update the provisions of the enterprise agreement according to any changes in legislation Union Elections ReminderA reminder to members that union elections for National and NSW Branch positions for 2022 are fast approaching. All members are encouraged to cast a vote - this is the best way to make sure the future representatives have the best interests of members at heart. Casting a vote during the Union elections is an incredibly important part of strengthening the democratic process of our union. The Postal Ballot closes on 12 December 2022, 5:00pm. In solidarity, David Babineau and Daniel Jaggers |