Massive Loco win – Minister rules out Driver Only

The Loco Division has had a big win today, with the NSW Transport Minister ruling out driver-only operations on the New InterCity Fleet.

Loco Division Secretary, Bob Hayden, said the commitment from the Minister has come after a long campaign by the union.

“The Loco Division has long campaigned against driver-only operations,” Bob Hayden said.

“We have, and will, always campaign against a form of working which we believe to be unsafe. Driver-only operations place a higher burden of responsibility on drivers and is a risk to the driver, other workers and commuters.

“Driver-only operations place a driver’s own health and safety at risk if they are involved in an incident and or become incapacitated at work. It’s a risk we can’t afford to take.

“The Locomotive Division  has fought a long and hard-fought campaign. Drivers know the increased risks that Driver Only would introduce, and we simply couldn’t sit by and let it happen.”

“The Minister, Andrew Constance today confirmed that he’d listened and decided that driver-only will not be introduced on our trains.

“While it is great news and vindicates the arguments that the Division has run and will continue to run, which had for nearly 2 years been ignored by Transport for NSW and NSW Trains.

“A huge thank you and congratulations to everyone who has been part of the fight, although we must remain vigilant and be prepared to continue to fight should driver-only raise its head in the future.”

You can see the press conference here on our Facebook page, and see the union’s media release about it here.