Sydney Trains Initial Employment Training – New Driver Course

The Locomotive Division was made aware by members that the agreed training course was being changed without consultation and due to this we wrote to Sydney Trains requesting a meeting and a subsequent assurance that this was not the case.

The concerns that were raised by members were that they are not being rostered 1 to 1 with a driver trainer for 19 days driving prior to the Route Knowledge Assessment. This should be enforced by the trainee to give them the best possible chance to progress through to the assessment and achieving a positive result.

The Driver Training Steering Committee met and an assurance was given that the course structure has not deliberately been changed but there were resource challenges and it was being applied in different ways.

Our position is clear and that is the agreed course should run and be rostered as it is agreed to, and we would be interested to know from members if this is not the case.

Whilst at the meeting a number of other issues were dealt with including the following:

• 19 day driving period being rostered (off the street program)
• Rostered drives starting on the 1^st day of the fortnight.
• Annual Leave rostered in the course starting on a Sunday.
• Progress Record book checks in the 1^st week of fortnight (so as to allow time for rostering to roster the outcome).

The course faces many challenges due to continued shortage of resources (as stated by management) and pressure is being felt by members as different practices are being investigated and applied by management as a way of getting it done. This is unacceptable to the Locomotive Division as it should be based on safety and the best possible educational outcome and not due to a failure of the business to forward plan and resource.

We encourage and will support any member who stands their ground with their conditions of employment & working conditions and we expect that no one will be disadvantaged because of it.

The Locomotive Division has and always will be committed to a safe initial driver training course that delivers safe outcomes for its members, the business and the travelling public. Whilst it would seem for whatever reason there are agendas being run and practices being changed, this will not be at the expense of our members. Any changes should be done through the long standing and proven Driver Training Steering Committee, the Drivers Rostering and Working Arrangements and the provisions of the EA 2018 of which all trainees are covered and should be enforced.

Correspondence has now been received from Sydney Trains addressing our concerns and providing assurances which if upheld will mean we should not expect to see a repeat of issues.

Thanks to all those members who made us aware of the issues and we would encourage all members to notify us of anything that seems different to the program.

Please contact head office on 02 92643400 or the Locomotive Division reps on the steering committee Andrew Holt / Paul Foster.