SAFETY ON THE NETWORK by David Paton

I started working in the railways in June 2007.  

Back then, Metro was Connex, John Howard was Prime Minister, and Geelong football club was on track to win the grand final. 

The hot topic of conversation for the RTBU back then was safety. Now, 17 years later, while improvements have been won, the focus remains.  

Over the years, the RTBU has continued to fight tirelessly to bring in more safety controls and initiatives to ensure your workplace is a safe place to be.  

The RTBU has campaigned for protections to be enshrined to form a new standard across the country, and have continued to advocate for Members’ safety, particularly those on the frontline. 

The RTBU’s Station Organisers are currently focusing on:  

  • Opposing Members working at locations one-up 
  • Ensuring station staff are not directed to perform Authorised Officer or VicPol Duties 
  • Opposing Members at one-up locations being directed to do station checks or red button checks during night network 
  • Opposing Members being directed to utilise public toilets outside during night network shifts 

When Members are directed to perform duties that they feel are unsafe, we encourage them to speak to their local HSR or Delegate, and to raise the issues with the RTBU directly. 

Despite the endless meetings, disputes and campaigns, it is disappointing to see management still requesting unsafe work practices from our Members.  

We know that when members work frontline roles alone at night, they are placed in increased dangers. Best practice should always be two-up at high risk times and locations.  

Physical assaults and verbal threats remain persistently high and more needs to be done to support members seeking transfer to safer locations. 

The RTBU has pushed for more consultation on these matters, and we are pleased to see that numerous regular forums have now been established and are being taken seriously.   

With improvements being slowly announced, members know that all of these steps have only happened because of the consistent and unwavering campaigning of the RTBU and its Members, Delegates and Representatives. These include increased AO headcount and presence, extra CCTV, de-escalation strategies, Trauma leave, etc.  

Members know there is still further progress to be made and we won’t back down from that pursuit. 

We also remind members that you are not required to put yourself in danger, police the area, deal with aggressive or threatening behavior, or staff barriers in unsafe circumstances. 

The RTBU is committed to ensuring the safety of ALL members and will never stop fighting for safer conditions. All stations should have enough staff to ensure that every member is safe all the time.