Member Update: May 6, 2022

Dear Members,

Three cheers for the amazing turnout of RTBU members during May Day! May Day is a crucial event on the union calendar around the world, and seeing members, their families, and friends turn up to support the contribution of workers and the call for the ongoing improvement of employee conditions is always one of the highlights of the year.

The show goes on for many EA negotiations.

In Newcastle, protected industrial action started this week with an indefinite ban on wearing uniforms and attending the office for any reason besides matters of safety. We encouraged members to wear union gear instead. This has turned into a visible signal to Keolis Downer that members are absolutely serious about getting the fair wages and conditions they deserve, and negotiations are recommencing as a result of the action taken by members. You can read some media coverage of our action in the Newcastle Herald here.

In Region 6, The next bargaining meeting is scheduled for May 18th. Both unions have been meeting to unify our Logs of Claims to get the best deal for all members. As always, members will have the final say. While we wait for that meeting, the RTBU and TWU appeared in a NSW Parliamentary Inquiry on Monday 2 May discussing the impact of the privatisation on Bus Drivers. The RTBU Submission to the Inquiry is available on the NSW Parliament Website here. Today, RTBU and TWU drivers in Region 6 took further action and implemented their own fare-free Friday and turned off Opal machines as their log of claims continue to be ignored and good-faith bargaining stunted by Transit Systems, Minister Elliott, and Transport for NSW.

In Region 7, Busways is expected to give us another offer by COB Tuesday 10th of May, but are expecting a response by the 13th. The union believes that 2 days to go over such an important document is not long enough and would be seeking 4-6 weeks to analyse their EA offer before reporting back to members. You'll also find a list of the broad log of claims endorsed by the members through a survey which closed yesterday.

In Region 9, Depot meetings are being organised for members to offer feedback and hopefully we can continue with the roadmap that has worked in Region 8, to deliver the STA conditions to workers in the East into the future.

The $50 gift cards for members will be available for pick-up from Monday 9th May for everyone except CMET members, who can collect their cards from 23rd May. Cards are to be collected from your local delegate. Remember to bring proof of your membership when collecting your card.

We hope that you continue to stay safe and well.

May Day 2022

May Day is an important day for unions worldwide, and these rallies are always a highlight of the year for the RTBU. It was great to see so many members participating, and bringing along their families and friends across different rallies around the state, making a fun day out of supporting the contribution of workers and the call for the ongoing improvement of employee conditions.

One of the rallies with a great RTBU turnout was the Hunter Workers May Day Rally. A great speech was given by Leanne Holmes, our National Vice President and member of the Hunter Workers executive committee, which riled up the crowd and reiterated just how strong our unity is in fighting for workers' rights.

Thank you to all who observed May Day this year, and every year. It continues to serve as a great reminder of how strong we are when we're united.

You can see all the pictures we took at the rally on the Tram & Bus website.

Region 6 EA Update

The next bargaining meeting is scheduled for May 18 2022.

In the meantime, RTBU and TWU appeared in a NSW Parliamentary Inquiry on Monday 2 May discussing the impact of the privatisation on Bus Drivers.

The RTBU Submission to the Inquiry is available on the NSW Parliament Website here.

Today, we worked with TWU once again to implement a fare-free Friday today (6th May) because your claims have continued to be ignored by Transit Systems, Transport Minister David Elliott, and Transport for NSW.

David Babineau, Tram and Bus Division Secretary of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) NSW, said, “the fact bus drivers are still being forced to take action in order to fix the mess of the NSW Government's creation beggars belief.”

“By refusing to accept fares on Friday, we're causing a headache for management and the government while at the same time thanking commuters for their ongoing support in our fight for fair pay and conditions. That's a win-win in our books”.

"Commuters and workers deserve better than what the current government is delivering when it comes to public transport. We shouldn't have to take actions like this in order to get the public transport system we deserve, but the NSW Government is leaving us with no choice."

Both unions have been meeting to unify our Logs of Claims to get the best deal for all members. As always, members will have the final say.

Region 7 bargaining update

Busways advised at the last EA meeting that they will present the union with an EA offer by COB Tuesday 10th May. Our next EA meeting is 13th May where Busways will respond to any questions that the union may have about their EA offer.

The union believes that 2 days to go over such an important document is not long enough and would be seeking 4-6 weeks to analyse their EA offer before reporting back to members.

At this meeting the union will present a broad log of claims (as endorsed by the members) to Busways.

The broad log of claims as endorsed by the members through a survey which closed yesterday is:

To keep all their current entitlements and conditions in the EA.
To ensure as shift workers they continue to get 5 weeks’ annual leave.
To seek a ‘real’ pay increase that acknowledges the increase in the Cost of Living and the impact of their Income Protection Clause.
To ensure their Penalties and Allowances are increased by the same percentage as their pay increase.
To ensure they keep their ADOs.
To keep all their sick leave entitlements (including the number of ‘casual’ sick days).
To have a maximum spread of 12 hours for Brokens.

Region 9 bargaining update

Last week, Transdev John Holland Buses (TJHB) sent out the NERR, which is a legal requirement to let all employees know that bargaining is going to commence.

The final EA document will be available for members late next week, and RTBU officials and delegates will be out the week after to discuss any issues with members.

Payroll issues are obviously ongoing and we’re awaiting an update on Monday regarding what issues have been fixed. We’re also seeking that to give members certainty and transparency while TJHB work through these issues, the company puts a timetable together for how they’re going to sort it all out.

Newcastle EA and Protected Action Ballot Update

Protected Industrial Action started on Wednesday with an indefinite ban on wearing uniforms, with members instead being encouraged to wear their union gear for the duration of the action. From these pictures on Tram & Bus Express, they did not disappoint!

Making ourselves visible in this way is a great show of strength to Keolis Downer; an important signal that we'll be sticking it out together as we fight for fair wages and conditions.

On Thursday, members also stopped attending the office for any reason indefinitely, with the exemption of attending on matters of safety.

As a result of the action, negotiations are now restarting with KD. All current actions that are taking place will still continue indefinitely while negotiations progress.

Keep it up, and keep yourselves strong!

Gift Cards ready for Collection

The $50.00 gift cards have arrived and will be available to pick up from your local delegate as of next Monday 9 May, except for CMET members who can get them from their delegate on the week commencing the 23^rd May.

Due to corporate governance, ALL members will need to provide evidence of current membership when picking up these gift cards from their delegates.

The executive have decided that the best proof will be showing your latest payslip or direct debit statement.

Media Release: Newcastle bus drivers forced to take industrial action to get a decent living wage

4 May 2022 - Newcastle bus drivers have been forced to take protected industrial action from Wednesday 4 May, following private bus company Keolis Downer’s refusal to provide drivers with fair pay and conditions as part of current enterprise agreement negotiations.

Bus drivers will refuse to wear their uniforms indefinitely from Wednesday – the first stage in their campaign to force the private company to deliver the fair wages they deserve.

Tram and Bus Division President of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) NSW, Daniel Jaggers said with recent inflation figures showing the sharpest rise in cost of living pressures in more than two decades, and Keolis Downer refusing to provide workers with fair wages as part of current negotiations, Newcastle bus drivers have been left with no choice but to step up their campaign for a decent living wage.

“Keolis Downer needs to come back to the negotiating table and have a serious discussion about lifting wages. Local drivers are essential workers who keep the community moving, putting themselves and their families at risk during the pandemic to get people to where they need to go,” Mr Jaggers said.

“Drivers are being forced to take protected industrial action to pressure their employer to pay a wage which allows them to make ends meet and live where they work. As the key inflation figures indicate, prices for goods and services increased 5.1 percent over the past year while wages have remained stagnant. Newcastle is no different to any metropolitan city- the cost of living here has soared for housing, food and fuel.

“The State Government is not blameless, either. The reason why drivers are taking protected action to fight for a liveable wage links back to the government’s decision to privatise Newcastle’s bus service. When they privatised our buses they effectively wiped their hands of the responsibility to deliver a quality service, yet ultimately they can deliver a fair wage rise by increasing their contracts with the private operator.

“Premier, we can’t wait for a decent living wage. Already our drivers are struggling to make ends meet while rising housing costs are pushing them further out of Newcastle. We’re not asking for much - just a wage which helps drivers keep up with the cost of living,” Mr Jaggers said.

Newcastle bus members voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking protected industrial action to send a message to Keolis Downer- and the State Government- that they won’t be taken for granted. Drivers will not trade off their conditions and are prepared to take further action if no agreement is reached with Keolis Downer.

In the Media

Our industrial action featured in the Newcastle Herald, which you can read by clicking on the title below.

Newcastle bus drivers to ditch company uniform as a call for 'fair wages' from Keolis Downer

Thanks for your essential work during a time of crisis.

In solidarity,

David Babineau and Daniel Jaggers