The RTBU recently signed off on two more labour hire Enterprise Agreements.
The first is the agreement for Track Protection Australia (TPA). This is TPA’s first union agreement and was signed in October after unanimous endorsement by RTBU members. This locks in industry conditions for Safeworking Members across the state.
In the spirit of standardising core infrastructure conditions, this agreement boasts:
- An 11% pay increase over 2.5 years
- Paid training
- Increased LAHA (Living Away from Home Allowance)
- Shift Cancellation Payments
- Double time all Sunday nights
- All shift work is on construction double time
The second agreement is for GTE. After 9 months of negotiations RTBU members unanimously endorsed their new Enterprise Agreement.
GTE members were previously some of infrastructure’s lowest paid workers, but now they will benefit from:
- An average pay increase of 36% over 3 years
- All double time Sunday nights
- Increased LAHA (Living Away from Home Allowance)
- New Rail Construction Classification Structure
- Paid Training
- Shift cancellation payments
- All shift work is on construction double time
The proposed agreement signifies the end of the disparity of conditions between the labour-hire sector and the broader infrastructure industry. The 36% average pay increase brings GTE workers in-line with industry standard rates currently enjoyed by others at Metro, V/Line, and the Tier 1 rail contractors such as John Holland & Coleman Rail.
These EAs could not have been achieved without the unity and hard work of our members employed at TPA and GTE, as well as the efforts of their Delegates.
As a union, we have set the standard for conditions and pay in the infrastructure and rollingstock space, and we will remain vigilant in fighting to ensure all members maintain their hard won wages, conditions and job security.
Never has the importance of one united, industry union been more important.
