V/LINE ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS
Joe Dennis
Organiser
We have recently been contacted by many members at V/Line regarding the upcoming Enterprise Agreement (EA) negotiations and when it will commence.
Being a Government-owned corporation, in order to commence bargaining for the V/Line EA, V/Line need approval from the Victorian Government to commence negotiations. The RTBU is well aware that in the 2015 EA bargaining round there was an 18-month delay on sign off of this EA which we are determined to avoid this time around.
Branch Secretary Luba Grigorovitch has written to Treasurer Tim Pallas MP in early January to fast track the process to ensure that bargaining can begin as soon as possible. We have not received a response from the Treasurer as yet, however, we will update members when we have any progress on this.
In the meantime, a Delegate meeting to develop the Log of Claims (LOC) occurred in late 2018 and a further meeting with Delegates to endorse the final LOC will occur in due course once we are closer to commencing bargaining.
If members have any questions regarding the EA, please feel free to contact me on 0403 863 869 or one of the other Organisers. The RTBU will continue to fight to improve and retain the current conditions.
LAING O’ROURKE EA 2019
Bryan Evans
Organiser
The first EA for 2019 has been finalised with Laing O’Rourke varying their Enterprise Agreement and bringing it in-line with industry standards. The Greenfields agreement that is currently in place although offering solid wages and conditions, lacked some of the fundamental rail conditions such as extended hours provisions and rostering protection that gives members control over their own work-life balance. The agreement was unanimously endorsed by members at a meeting held at E-Gate on Wednesday the 30 January and once ratified by the FWC, will be an agreement that members can be proud of.
Laing O’Rourke will now join John Hollands having signed 2018/2019 agreements. Downer Infrastructure will be commencing shortly and the Coleman Rail agreement is up for re negotiation in August this year, placing RTBU members in a good position to achieve a level of standardisation amongst tier 1 contractors that has been frustratingly absent for some time.
All rail workers across Victoria deserve the same set of fundamental wages and conditions no matter where in the industry they work, and we are one step closer to achieving that goal.
This year will be action packed with a number of EAs expiring in the Infrastructure, Rollingstock, Labour Hire and Workshops Division. If you have any queries or questions, feel free to call me on 0457 006 739
METRO SIGNALLING & TRAIN CONTROL
Joe Maisano
Organiser
There have been many complaints come forward to the Union office recently from the Signalling and Train Control grades. The main issue is around multiple job vacancies not being filled swiftly and having been left open for a length of months. Some job roles are not being advertised at all, which is causing further complaints that the role is not covered properly for a period of time. Coverage is being done ad-hoc and some days there is no coverage at all.
The Dandenong signal box cribb break roster set up for the Westall Panel expansion covers weekdays only and Signallers are asking for the same coverage as Newport and Craigieburn Signal Boxes which is Saturday rostering coverage. Feedback from Metro is that it won’t be happening anytime soon.
With the introduction of Pakenham, the workload at Dandenong signal box has increased dramatically to the point where the signallers are now asking for a cribb break roster seven days a week and will be still waiting.
Other concerns raised is that there is preference on who gets the overtime over others. Some people may feel obligated to do the overtime so they don’t let their co-workers or Metro down which is causing fatigue.
Training has commenced for Train Controllers and Signallers to fill the vacant roles, but it does take time to train the Train Controllers to progress to a higher classification level and the same for the Signallers learning the new super Signal Boxes.
In passing conversations I have heard that safeworking errors are also occurring, this is due to the incumbent being inexperienced. You cannot gain railway knowledge without doing the mile.
I have raised these concerns with management and I hope to see these issues resolved as soon as possible, however currently it is simply a waiting game for the people in training to be qualified enough to assist.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2019
Luba Grigorovitch
Branch Secretary
Once again, International Women’s Day is upon us and I’m sure in 2019 it will be just as festive and action packed as previous years!
The week of International Women’s Day will begin with a Feminist Movie Night screening on Tuesday 5 March. All members are invited to the movie night.
The cost of the movie night is a $10 door entry fee that includes dinner, a beanbag to watch the movie from, popcorn and choc tops and is shared with our sisters from the CFMEU, ETU & MUA. For anyone interested in attending, contact Hannah Scott on 0448 569 178 or hannah.scott@rtbuvic.com.au
I am also proud to announce that for the ninth year in a row our RTBU International Women’s Day Conference will once again be held.
Each year, the conference brings together women and men from across the public transport industry to celebrate the impact women have had by organising in our industry.
Members from all Divisions of the RTBU are invited to join the festivities and attend the conference. This year, the conference is being held on Thursday 7 March at the RTBU Head Office and runs from 10:00am – 2:00pm. It provides opportunity for members to discuss industry wide issues.
The conference is a great opportunity for members from all across Rail and Tram to come together and celebrate some great achievements in the movement. In male dominated industries such as ours, women’s voices are often lost. This is why RTBU Women encourages all women to be more active and find your voice and speak out.
At the conference, there will be a CEO panel with the CEOs of all of our major operators (Metro, V/Line, Yarra Trams & PTV) in attendance. The CEO panel includes question time with the CEOs and is a great opportunity for RTBU Women to raise issues with their CEO directly.
The agenda for the day also includes a workshop from the Victorian Trades Hall Council We are Union Women (WAUW) team on confidence building and networking which I am sure will be a great workshop for RTBU women.
Similar to previous years, we have a commitment from Metro, V/Line and Yarra Trams that all women who are interested in attending will be offered the opportunity to be booked off pending operational requirements.
If you wish to attend the conference, please email Hannah Scott at women@rtbuvic.com.au ASAP so your release can be requested by the company.
International Women’s Day (IWD) this year falls on Friday 8 March 2019. It is celebrated annually and recognises the achievements of women in the union movement and across the world. Women over many decades and centuries have fought long and hard for the conditions which we have today, however the fight is never over.
As part of International Women’s Day, the RTBU will march in the IWD rally. I would like to encourage all members to join us on Friday 8 March.
Any members wishing to walk in the rally are asked to meet at the RTBU Office at 5pm.
Please take this opportunity to get involved in the festivities of IWD. I look forward to seeing you at some of the events.
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