By 2017 the new freight hub will be up and running in Moorebank including a much-needed rail link from Port Botany to Moorebank. Although it is predicted to remove 3,300 trucks from the road in that region of Sydney, it will not solve the current congestion on the existing rail networks.

While welcoming the Moorebank announcement the RTBU has called on the state government to increase the capacity for rail freight transport into and out of Sydney by developing more dedicated freight lines and hubs that do not have to share with passenger services.

It’s also crucial that proper planning enures that any new infrastructure developments are well integrated into the existing network to gain maximum efficiency.

“The commitment to improving freight handling has been desperately needed for a long time and the union has been consistently agitating the government,” says Robert Hayden, NSW Loco Division Secretary. “The construction of the new Southern Freight Line and the Northern Freight Corridor is a good start. Ideally, there would be a series of hubs dotted across the network – one for each line.”

In addition to Moorebank, the union says the proposed freight hub at Enfield, with a shuttle service to Port Botany and links to the entire NSW network, is also necessary.

Have your say: What do you think are the priorities for freight infrastructure?

2009 EA Back Pay:

After many months of correspondence, the RTBU Locomotive division has finally been able to achieve back pay for two members who transferred from PN Coal to PN Bulk during the 12 months between the expiry of the 2009 Enterprise Agreement and the signing of the 2010 EA.

PN agreed to reimburse the back pay from June 2009 to September 2010 but PN Coal did not honour the arrangement.

From April 2011 the RTBU sent a number of letters to the PN Coal Division and finally, on October 11, GM Coal operations advised that the back pay would occur, with the money finally being paid on November 25.

Freightliner Thanks Workers:

It’s pleasing to finally see a company that values its employees. Freightliner Australia placed the following advertisement in local papers in the Newcastle, Singleton and Mudgee areas at the end of October thanking their employees for the last 12 months of operations.

“A thank you to our employees

Freightliner Australia is now approaching the first anniversary of our commencement of Hunter Valley coal operations. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our employees, both Coal and Intermodal, and their families who have made these years such a success.

We appreciate the efforts, focus and diligence that you have given to make the last few years great, and the support that your families have also provided.

As we expand our operations and grow from strength to strength we again thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm.

From the team at Freightliner Australia.”

Freightliner Newcastle Depot Opening:

Freightliner Australia opened it new Newcastle Depot on Wednesday November 23 in Sandgate. The general manager John McArthur, and general manager of Xstrata Coal opened the facility. Freight Organiser, Steve Wright attended the opening and was given a guided tour of the facility.

Driver Only Operations:

Finally, after many months of meetings and risk assessments, Pacific National have finally deferred the exploration of Driver Only Operations on the main south line from Junee to Melbourne. They will be concentrating instead on their efforts on Driver Only Operations in the Melbourne Freight Terminal and the Melbourne Steel terminal. However, Pacific National will also continue to look for efficiencies on the main south line to keep the Junee Depot viable.

ICE Radio introduction:

The ICE radio console has been subject to a dispute in Melbourne since its inception because the RTBU and its delegates have been excluded from consultation by PN Coal.

After many requests to allow RTBU and its delegates to have some input into the placement, size and operation of the ICE radio on PN locomotives they were finally invited to a briefing session.

Despite this small step forward the RTBU delegates are once again being excluded from PN Coal meetings or inspections.

Pacific National Enterprise Agreement:

The Pacific National Enterprise Agreements are due to expire on June 30, 2012, and we are preparing to start negotiations this month. Key delegates from across the company will be asked to endorse Part A (common clauses and expiry dates) to allow part B, C and D negotiations to commence.

The following meetings are planned for December.

December 6 and 7 – RTBU Combined Delegates meeting

December 8 – PN Coal meet with RTBU Negotiating Team

December 12 – PN Bulk meet with RTBU Negotiating Team

December 16 – PN Intermodal meet with RTBU Negotiating Team

Freightliner Australia Enterprise Agreement:

The company and RTBU officials and delegates will be sitting down in mid January to commence talks on replacing the Freightliner Australia (excluding Coal) EA due to expire in June 2012.

Freight drivers are being left in the dark as the freight companies refuse to share information or consult with drivers about the transition to digital radio. 

The existing analogue radio system, CountryNet, is due to be decommissioned by the ARTC some time after 2012 and across the network RailCorp and the freight companies are working to convert from an analogue to a digital system.

RailCorp has been cooperative with the RTBU inviting delegates to briefing meetings. However, those in freight have struggled to get information about the changes, with several requests for information and inclusion in the working party ignored by PN.

Delegates including, Steve Wright, finally had the chance to investigate the functionality of the new digital In-cab Communication Equipment (ICE) when an Intermodal manager in Melbourne gave them a briefing in late October.

The verdict from Steve is that if ICE works as it is supposed to it will be an improvement on the existing system. ICE radio is supposed to provide 100% coverage, putting an end to the current dangerous radio black spots. This will not only enhance safety, it will increase productivity for drivers and companies.

There was however one matter of dispute for freight locomotives. The screen has been reduced from 10 x 7 inches to 5 x 7 inches, making it much harder for the driver to read it. No consultation was offered to delegates regarding the ergonomic implications of the size and placement of the screen, and unfortunately, as new locomotives are already being produced with this small screen, it’s an issue that is unlikely to be resolved.

RailCorp will replace all radio systems with the National Train Communication System (NTCS), which will use the Telstra NextG network. All trains will be upgraded in June 2013 with ICE in order to access the NTCS and the Voice Communication System at the Rail Management Centre will also need to be updated.

All RailCorp diesel rolling stock will be fitted with ICE Radio before the CountryNet decommissioning date and the new system will tested before the analogue system is turned off. This will allow RailCorp’s rolling stock, which includes XPT, Endeavour, Xplorer, Hunter Rail Cars, Heritage fleet, 48 Class Locomotives, to operate throughout ARTC controlled areas within the new system.

A report into the implementation process from RailCorp is due in the next month or so. RTBU freight delegates will keep information and feedback about ICE Radio flowing to those members within the Freight Operators who have been excluded from the consultation process.

The RTBU will support any member who reduces the speed of their train on the Sydney to Melbourne line due to safety concerns following a recent near miss on the line.

V/Line have recently imposed a 60km/h limit on a section of track where an incident occurred that saw a passenger train narrowly miss a maintenance crew working on the line.

Despite this, the Australian Rail Track Corporation maintain that the track is safe and no speed limit is required.

The incident comes after the RTBU wrote to Federal Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese calling on him to conduct an inquiry into the state of the track.

The union has long been concerned about the condition of the track, which is riddled with mud holes following cost-cutting resleepering methods.

Read the ABC’s report on the issue here.

See these videos taken by The Border Mail newspaper, and read their report here.

After initial advice from PN Bulk that it was not able to calculate the information to identify if fuel savings had been achieved and therefore could not pay the 1% base rate increase to employees for the last 12 months of the EA Performance Incentive Program (PIP), the company has now offered a part payment as follows:

Under the original offer employees were to receive a 1% bonus from July 1, 2011 for the year 2010-11 if they reached their targets, and a further 1% the following year if the 2011-2012 year targets were met. The agreement does not provide for part payment if less than the required 1% is met.

At a second meeting to discuss the issue on Friday July 29, PN Bulk abandoned its initial position and advised that it has been able to identify fuel savings for the 2010-2011 year of 0.75% of the total identified in the EA that was required to achieve the 1% increase.

PN Bulk has now offered to pay an initial 0.5% upfront to be backdated to July 1.

They have also agreed to pay a further 0.25% from October 2011 (backdated to July 2011) based on PN Bulk beginning to implement the correct P.I.P. processes including the formation of fuel-saving committees at each major depot, and the generation and recording of at least one fuel-saving initiative per major depot.

The total base rate increase being offered is 0.75%; this is based on fuel savings of 0.75% being achieved for the 2010-2011 year.

PN Bulk also advised that they had started calling for interested employees at the major depots to join their depot committees. The division encourages RTBU delegates to either nominate themself or another member to be on their depot committee.

The union also argued that should the offer be accepted by delegates, the remaining 0.25% for the 2010-2011 year should be rolled across and added to the 1% available for the 2011-2012 year to provide a base rate increase of 1.25% for the 2011-2012 year if the 2011-2012 targets are met.

A delegate’s hook up is being held on Tuesday August 2 to brief delegates on the proposal and get feedback before a response is provided to the company.

For more information, watch out for updates on the LocoExpress website and or at your work location.

Drivers for freight operator El Zorro will finally start receiving the thousands of dollars in backpay negotiated between the company and the RTBU as part of the EBA signed earlier this year.

The payments are for 4% of salary from 1 December 2009 and 2.5% from 1 December 2010 to 1 June 2011 – covering base hours, excess hours and RDOs.

The first payment will arrive this week and be made over 9 fortnightly payments through to the end of October.

The EBA and backpay were negotiated with a view to bringing El Zorro drivers up to industry standards – especially in the area of pay – as freight rail booms.

PN Bulk has responded to pressure from the RTBU over the disgraceful state of cab toilets and will implement a plan to clean and upgrade them.

Until toilet facilities can be upgraded, PN Bulk will advise all drivers that they may stop the train at any station that’s open on a branch line and use those toilet facilities. Female drivers will also be issued with hygiene packs.

The RTBU will continue to hold PN Bulk accountable for the standard of toilet facilities in cabs until all toilets are clean, hygienic and safe.

Drivers at freight operator Independent Railways of Australia overwhelmingly endorsed a new Enterprise Agreement this week that pushes employer-provided superannuation up to an industry-leading 14%.

The three-year agreement also kisses goodbye to an arrangement where pay rises were tied to CPI and gives drivers a 28% pay hike bringing them up to industry standards.

Continuing high demand for drivers and strong union presence at IRA were factors in winning a good deal, said freight organiser Kevin Pryor.

A runaway train caused mayhem on Sydney’s major freight line at Enfield on Tuesday when it crashed into several empty fuel wagons and derailed.

The train, made up of 28 wagons and weighing in at over 2500t, had remained stationary all weekend but ran away at 12:45 pm, taking the empty fuel tanks and an overhead wiring stanchion with it before coming to rest across the Up and Down Main freight lines.

An onlooker described the smash as, “the scariest thing I have ever seen.”

At the time of the incident some of the break shoes were being replaced on the train, as the rake of aggregate wagons was undergoing maintenance.

The incident, having undergone a preliminary investigation, will be formally investigated in the coming weeks.

Thankfully, there were no injuries caused.

RTBU members have raised their concern about safety procedures and poor air quality at the unloading site within Weston Milling at Enfield.

Dusty, narrow and dark walkways at Weston Milling

A number of representatives from Weston Milling, both RTBU members and officials with Pacific National Bulk, were in attendance at an onsite dynamic risk assessment on Monday 11 April.

This assessment process raised some significant health & safety concerns as well as some procedural lapses. These included concerns that:

• the lighting and walkways throughout the shunting process are lacking;

• the presence of dust within the area of unloading operations is substantial; and

More narrow walkways for workers

• general housekeeping procedures are inadequate.

Following from the meeting, management will work on implementing general procedures, including further inspections, and will meet with members to discuss improvements to lighting and narrow walkways.

Concern still remains regarding air quality and the RTBU Loco Division will meet with Workcover representatives to discuss the best way to address this and other issues.

Members will be kept up to date as the issues progress.

Freightliner drivers are set to become some of the highest-paid freight drivers in the state for a 38-hour week under a new agreement negotiated by the RTBU to be voted on next week.

The agreement includes a substantial performance allowance and a pay rise increase of 12% over 3 years, plus another 2% at the end of those three years as an advance payment for the next agreement, which is a sign of the good faith which has been developed between the Company and RTBU Loco Division.

Company plans to expand their operations contributed to the strength of the agreement. Many drivers considering signing up with Freightliner, who are coming from unionised workplaces, would not sign until they had seen the details of the employment agreement negotiated by the union; and the company wished to negotiate an industry-leading agreement to attract drivers to work for them.

The new Freightliner agreement sets a new industry standard that all RTBU Loco members can aspire to in their next enterprise agreement negotiations.