Kath Larkin 

Women’s Officer

 

In an attempt to redress the under-representation of women in our union the RTBU, in listening to the requests of women members has established a new position “Women’s Workplace Advocate”.

The position of RTBU Women’s Workplace Advocate is to be an additional point of contact, based in the workplace or work group, between women members and the union. This position will be elected by women members of the workplace or work group and is intended to compliment, not replace or counter pose the position of workplace Delegate. Elected Women’s Advocates will receive tailored training to support them in their role.

The role of an RTBU Women’s Workplace Advocate is:

• To work with RTBU delegates and officials to advocate for the rights of women at work.
• Attend monthly delegates meetings where they exist.
• To attend and promote events of RTBUWomen.
• To facilitate the involvement of women members in union campaigns and events.
• To strengthen and support the union as a whole.
• A point of contact for women who have an issue they feel they can only raise with a woman.

Over the last three months the union has been running elections at various workplaces to elect the Women’s Advocates. If there is yet to be an election in your area, don’t panic, there will be one in the coming weeks/months. Please contact the Union office on 8630 9100 to enquire when this election will take place.

We would like to congratulate the following women who stuck their hands up to give it a go and have been officially elected by their work groups:

Stations

Carol Hurlston – Werribee to Newport
Deliala Bangeira – Newport to Williamstown
Sharon Chaile – Foostcray to Sunbury

Authorised Officers

Julie Hall – Transport House B Roster
Mandy Formenton – Transport House A Roster
Lyn Malonzo – North Melbourne A Roster
Amanda Irving – North Melbourne B Roster
Leonie Poole – Hawthorn B Roster

Multi Modal Authorised Officers

Kellie Grayson – Southern Cross A Roster
Stacey Osborne – Southern Cross C Roster

Conductors

Heather Sulivan – Ballarat
Belinda Tcaciuc – Ballarat

If you would like to know more about this exciting new position, or wish to have an election for a Women’s Advocate in your workplace please contact Hannah Scott on 8630 9100 to organise.

All welcome to the next meeting of RTBUWomen on;

Thursday 11 August 2016
11:00am -12:30pm
Box Hill Station meeting room
RSVP: women@rtbuvic.com.au

The RTBU sent out a letter to all members last month asking them to update their membership details with the union. It was great to see that a huge amount of members took the time to update their details, thank you. Those who updated details went in the draw to win a prize.

Having drawn the names, we can announce the following winners:

1st Prize (2 nights stay @ RTBU Holiday Apartments in Rosebud): Robert Lawson – Leading Shunter, Rail Operations
2nd Prize winner ($150 Bunnings voucher): Lucy Sala – Admin Officer, Administration Division
3rd Prize winner ($100 Myer voucher): Trevor Rae – Terminal Operator, Rail Operations

Congratulations to these lucky prize winners and thank you to all RTBU members who updated their membership details.

Luba Grigorovitch, RTBU Branch Secretary
Phil Altieri, RTBU Assistant Branch Secretary

 

Bryan Evans
Organiser

 

The RTBU has been working closely with Incolink over the last 6 months to deliver an Income Protection Program catered specifically for modern day railway workers.

Income protection Insurance is designed to help members and their families in the unfortunate circumstance that you become ill, or have an accident that prevents you from working.

As well as providing personal accident insurance and Illness insurance, which pays out a value of $1450 per week for a period of up to two years, the RTBU program also delivers, TAC top ups, Workcover Top ups, Workplace Death and trauma insurance, Funeral cover for you and your family, Emergency Transport cover and accidental dental. It also covers members who suffer from mental illness or depression for the full period of 2 years.

Covering members up to the age of 70, the RTBU is proud to deliver such a high quality program for members and their families. The program will initially be available to all members covered by the Metro 2016 Infrastructure Agreement and remains a live claim in Metro Rolling stock, Bombardier West Melbourne and regional agreements.

Jamie Porter

Organiser

 

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) locked in key wins for our Union and has seen great results. Thanks to that, we now have an outstanding EA on the table. Yet the fight is still on!

We have now proceeded to the drafting phase of the EA which will ensure all of our conditions are drafted accurately to reflect the true intention of the clause. The RTBU and Bargaining Reps have conducted numerous full day negotiations to protect our conditions and to ensure that we get the best EA possible for you.

As recently as this week, members have seen dodgy clauses that have been tabled last minute by V/Line, which would see station staff and conductors cleaning windows and mopping floors of trains.

It has sent outrage throughout the membership and all members need to be aware that the RTBU and Bargaining Reps were and are completely opposed to this clause and it HAS NOT been accepted by the RTBU.

The RTBU stands committed to fighting for and retaining current conditions. If V/Line want to continue to change the goal posts, they need to be aware that our members have had enough and we will take action if we don’t get a fair deal.

All V/Line Operations members should have received a ballot paper and should have voted YES to all action items on the ballot. Please ensure that these have been sent back to the AEC as the Ballots will be counted on Tuesday 21 June 2016.

State Secretary Luba Grigorovitch and I will be holding Mass meetings at Southern Cross Station on Thursday 16 June at 14:00 and Friday 17 June at 13:00. A Delegates meeting is also organised to be held within the next week.

For more information please contact me on 0403 863 869.

Comrades,

The fight against Metro and Yarra Trams is still on!
Please support RTBU comrades in their rally for a fair deal.
Time: 12.00 pm
Place: Flinders Street Station
THIS FRIDAY 20 AUGUST