Over recent years the RTBU has campaigned for tougher penalties to deter and prosecute offenders to keep members safe on the job. We have advocated for these sensible changes because we understand what members are facing every day in every corner of the state.
At the Victorian ALP State Conference, Jacinta Allan, Premier of Victoria announced at the that the government would be introducing tougher legislation to protect front line workers from violence and aggression at work.
From Brunswick to Bairnsdale, working hard to deliver and uphold services across the state, members are on the front lines facing abuse that must never be tolerated.
This announcement is a huge positive step in the right direction and would not have been possible without the hard work of RTBU members supporting our safety campaign, demanding change on the front lines.
The RTBU will continue to engage with government as legislation is drafted and will continue to keep members informed of any developments. Naturally this will take some time to get right, but with a seat at the table we will be working to ensure the best possible outcomes.
This work compliments the efforts we continue to make through the Safe Public Transport working committee and work locally with employers. This underscores the importance of raising and reporting safety issues when they arise. This includes any form of violence and aggression, verbal or physical, along with any other safety concerns identified across the network.
At the Conference, I successfully had a motion overwhelmingly endorsed by delegates condemning the Victorian State Wages Policy and the way it is designed to establish unfair disparity in bargaining between government corporations (like V/Line) and private franchise operators (like Metro and Yarra Trams).
Further, we achieved strong media coverage over the again postponed Airport Rail Link that has been on the cards since the 1960s. It is clear that Victorians want to see this project go ahead!
