RTBU goes in to battle for your rights and entitlements

Today your union sent a strong message to the Minister for Transport that any attack on workers rights is unacceptable.

The NSW Government announced they would be offering 750 voluntary redundancies in RailCorp middle management, splitting RailCorp into two entities Sydney Rail and NSW Rail, and introducing a new management regime for our cleaners.

The RTBU met with the Transport Minister, Gladys Berejiklian, and the Director General of Transport for NSW, Les Wielinga, this morning to get an after the fact briefing on the proposed changes.

All RailCorp staff are covered by the Enterprise Agreement negotiated by your union in 2010 and any positions to go will be offered under voluntary redundancy arrangements.

At this stage we have not been given any more detail about exactly which positions are being targeted but the RTBU will be working hard to ensure all members rights and entitlements are protected as this become clearer.

The first we knew of these changes was, like you, waking up to see it in the media this morning. We have told the Minister directly that this is not an acceptable way to treat dedicated transport workers.

The Minister has now given an undertaking that she will engage in robust consultation with the union as the job cuts and changes are rolled out over the next 18 months.

Another meeting is scheduled with RailCorp next Tuesday and we will update you as soon as more detail comes to hand.

Today’s announcement comes on the back of the shedding of 600 transit officer jobs. There is a real possibility that this is just the start of rolling job cuts across the network.

Your union will be working hard to protect you every step of the way in what will be a long hard fight. Our power is in our numbers and our unity and we will stay united and strong in the face of these attacks.

We are strongest when we all work together so we need your help. You can do your bit by:

• – Making sure all your workmates are RTBU members. Membership forms can be downloaded easily from the RTBU website or you contact the office on 9264 2511 to get advice and support from an official;
• – Keeping your details up to date with the RTBU;
• – Keeping in contact with your workplace delegate;
• – Working with us to defend our job security and the rights of our members.

You can contact us at: nswloco@rtbu-nsw.asn.au