PN Coal Unit – Significant variability in demand and decision making

Pacific National is all over the place at the moment – and workers are suffering as a result.

As previously reported in Loco Express, the company recently announced intention to cut 46 jobs from the Hunter Valley depot. However, after your union disputed the matter and placed pressure on the company to be transparent and follow the EA process, PN decided to suspend and review its process.

After around 27 people took the VR option, the union received several reports from members of the company about being unable to man its trains and calling for employees to make themselves available for overtime.

In late March the company advised it had decided not to progress with forced retrenchments in the HV coal business. The union believes two more employees have since accepted VR.

The company also advised it would be recalling the sixteen seconded terminal drivers back to the terminal and allowing all terminal drivers to apply for ten mainline roles. This to be completed by end of April.

One has to question the companies approach as from what we have seen and been advised by our members, volumes have not deceased.

As you may have heard the company has now without any consultation whatsoever, called for Voluntary Redundancies EOI’s across the PN Rail Intermodal Business .