PN – IPS Employees to Take Action

Locomotive Division Members are advised that their work may be affected by Protected Industrial Action (PIA) elsewhere in Pacific National’s business, with PIA starting this weekend due to Pacific National and their ongoing failure to recognise the contribution made by RTBU Members working at the IPS. 

Members may recall that back in 2016, Pacific National deliberately shut down its business unit planning centres at Parramatta, Newcastle, and Dulwich SA, rebranded all the position titles and used outdated Workplace Laws, to move all the positions outside the EA and slashed the wages of these roles by half. A deliberate, shameful, and calculated attack on its workforce. 

Since the above occurred: 

• The workers at IPS have been treated appallingly with low wages, next to no working conditions, no overtime rates, and no rostering protections, their only protections being the base award and NES. 

• Pacific National has fought every step of the way to deny these workers decent working conditions, yet at the same time stating they want to be an employer of choice. Pacific National fought the Majority Support Determination which was later granted by the Fair Work Commission. Since the MSD was granted 12 months ago, in negotiations PN have refused to offer fair and reasonable wages that match others in the industry and are still refusing to accept basic workplace rights in the agreement such as arbitration and inserting their redundancy policy as an entitlement. 

Since 2016, IPS workers have been involved in an industrial struggle like so many other workers across the country to secure back the rights unjustly stolen from them. After gaining the right to bargain in May 2022, these workers progressively unionised while being exposed to Pacific National’s anti-worker behaviour. The vast majority of IPS workers are now RTBU members. 

This weekend IPS RTBU Members will kick off a series of actions, some of which will continue indefinitely. All workers deserve the right to decent wages and conditions and as such we ask that all Locomotive Division members respect your fellow members’ rights to take PIA and offer your support to them. 

Members should be aware that starting this weekend it may not be the usual worker on the other end of the phone when you call IPS, but rather a manager or someone from another area that is not familiar with your work. Members should be extra vigilant in seeking or taking instructions, and make sure you take extra safety precautions. Ask Questions and seek clarifications around any information received from IPS this weekend. 

It is not expected that there will be major disruptions affecting train crew. 

Its time that PN righted its wrong and pay back at least some of what it has stolen since 2016. 

If you have any questions, please speak to your local delegate. 

Download the Newsflash here.