Luba Grigorovitch
Branch Secretary

RTBU EAs are in full swing with ground being broken. As members are aware, the RTBU notified Metro of work bans on the week of 12 August. Metro members in operational grades whipped into action. In light of mounting pressure, Metro threatened to dock members’ pay but this only further incited hard working members as Metro’s heavy hand likely overstepped the mark.

The RTBU has sought legal advice on the docking of pay for minor work bans. Should Metro seek to dock members’ pay in future instances of Protected Industrial Action, the RTBU will commence legal proceedings to challenge their attacks.

Eager to block members’ attempts to take action, Metro moved to have some of your actions blocked through a court injunction.

Metro claimed that leaving barriers open was not a form of industrial action as it was not part of ordinary duties and as a result would not be ‘protected’ under the legislation. Further, they claimed that misleading statements had been made about how you were going to take some forms of industrial action. The RTBU told the court that the union had never said that there would be “free travel days” and that the media had done what they do best in sensationalising anything they can get their hands on.

No wonder workers across Australia have continued to grow disillusioned by the industrial relations system! In a matter of hours, the Federal Court awarded Metro with an injunction against planned action of open barriers and issued a court order and the RTBU invested considerable time and effort to ensure compliance. This is 2019 Australia. The rules indeed need to be changed!

With all other forms of industrial action on the table for the week to come, the RTBU responded to Metro’s threats to dock members’ pay by notifying a 4-hour stoppage scheduled for Tuesday 27 August. Metro’s little win in the courts did little to curb members’ momentum.

The culmination of threatened industrial action, court battles, and Metro’s general confusion, the weekend saw Metro return to the bargaining table looking to put talks back on track, seeking to restore faith in their approach to bargaining.

Following lengthy discussions amongst Officials and key Delegates, the RTBU made the call to capitalise on the opportunity to advance claims and withdrew looming work bans to enter intensive negotiations. These negotiations have proven to be beneficial, and although we are yet to reach an agreement, these talks have proved generally positive, the RTBU continues to push forward and ensure claims are taken seriously.

I have heard from many Members just how keen you are to take protected action if a fair deal isn’t forthcoming. Members should know that the period in which Metro members can take protected industrial action presently expires on 28 August. Consequently, Marc Marotta and I have applied to the Fair Work Commission to have our right to take protected action extended by another 30 days.

Although we called off the original stoppage, please be under no illusion that one might not happen. The RTBU is prepared to play the long game.

The RTBU will refuse to sign off on a deal that could compromise the safety and working conditions of members.

Members deserve to be respected at work, and the RTBU will demand it.

Darren Galea
Organiser

For some time now, there have been ongoing issues with rough riding on the V/Line network. The RTBU has received reports for over 110 rough riding incidents that have occurred in the North East region alone and there are over 100 other reports of incidents that have occurred across the other regions in V/Line.

This is not okay and our members should not be put at such risk for simply doing their job.

At Albury Station for example, out of the eight staff members that work there, three of them are either on light duties or off on a WorkCover claim due to injuries sustained from rough riding. There is also the potential for many other injuries to have occurred, however due to the forward thinking of many V/Line staff members, they continuously brace themselves when they are travelling over a particular section of track that they are aware is particularly rough.

It is clear that the rough riding is occurring because the network is not being maintained to the standards that it should be. This is unacceptable!

The RTBU has written to the CEO of V/Line James Pinder to raise this as an issue and he has written back to us advising that the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is responsible for the maintenance of the interstate network which includes the North East region. Mr Pinder advised that V/Line have now requested targeted maintenance to occur on the network.

While this is a step in the right direction, the RTBU will continue to put pressure on V/Line and the relevant authorities to ensure that the network is maintained correctly, and our members are not injured any further.

Luba Grigorovitch
Branch Secretary

The results are in for the Protected Industrial Action Ballot for Metro Trains Operations with a resounding yes of 99% from all members who participated.

Members at Metro are sick and tired of being taken advantage of and they deserve a fair and reasonable deal.  With 99% of members who voted endorsing industrial action it is clear members are frustrated by Metro’s tactics and aggressive attacks on hard-won conditions. It is time to take a stand.

The ballot has approved industrial action that includes: 

• Workplace stoppages ranging from 4 to 48 hours.
• Banning last minute changes to timetables such as station skipping and short shunting.
• Refusal to check Mykis.
• Open barrier days.
• Refusal to issue infringement notices.
• Bans on working overtime and a refusal to participate in any workplace trials or testing of new technology.
• Refusal for station staff to make some service announcements.
• Uniform ban.

Metro is a majority foreign-owned company that has drained over $305 million from the Victorian economy since it took over the franchise. Enough is enough, it is time that Metro put people before profit, and give workers a fair deal.

If Metro are looking for improved productivity and better outcomes, they must to take a good hard look at management before they continue to point the finger at you, our hardworking members who keep the network running.

A Delegates meeting will be arranged in the coming weeks to plan out any potential industrial action that will take place. Stay tuned for further updates in the coming weeks and remember, united we stand, divided we fall!  

Order from the Federal Court of Australia

Darren Galea 
Organiser

As you would be aware, the RTBU has recently lodged for Protected Industrial Action (PIA) for the Metro Trains Rail Operations Enterprise Agreement (EA).

Consequently, the RTBU has planned workplace meetings at all major stations across the network. These meetings have been occurring over the last week and will continue to take place over the coming weeks.

While the meetings are scheduled at Stations, we encourage any Metro Operations Member, (Signallers, AOs, DAOs, Train Controllers etc) to attend any of the listed meetings. Further meetings to cover all locations in Rail Operations will be scheduled at a later date.

Many Members have already received their ballot paper in the mail to vote for the PIA.

We have received a number of questions over the last few days regarding how you should vote for the proposed PIA, so for clarity:  

• You will receive your official ballot papers in the mail from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).
• You will receive information and a sample how to vote card from the RTBU Office. Vote YES to every single question on the ballot paper if you support the RTBU lodging for protected industrial action.

Anyone who has not yet received their ballot paper, it may mean that your address in the RTBU membership system was incorrect at the time of the ballots being sent out. You will therefore need to request that a new ballot paper be posted out to you. This must be done ASAP because ballots must be received by 10am on 29 July to be counted.

Any member who has not received their ballot needs to contact the Returning Officer at the AEC Ashleigh Finch on 9285 7108 or email (addressing to Ashleigh) to vicelections@aec.gov.au

Should you have any further queries don’t hesitate to contact one of the Organisers, or your Delegate.