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Secretary’s wrap

It’s been a tough couple of weeks for workers everywhere.Bob-Hayden-Divisional-Secretary

The Federal Government has launched a public attack on many of our hard fought rights over the past fortnight. We’ve had Liberal backbenchers calling for the abolition of penalty rates; the Industrial Relations Minister has slipped a Bill into the House of Representatives that would cap redundancy payments at 16 weeks; and the Prime Minister doing a dirty deal with the Palmer United Party to pause the rise in our superannuation contributions at 9.5 per cent until 2021.

And all the while unions are being dragged through the mud at the Abbott Government’s Royal Commission into Trade Unions – clearly an investigation designed purely to pave the way for further union-busting measures and attacks on the rights of workers.

But the good news is that workers across the country are banding together to fight to protect our rights. Through an ACTU co-ordinated campaign, tens of thousands of people sent emails to cross-benchers calling on them to side with workers and vote against the Abbott Government’s attacks.

We’ve got strength in numbers and a dedication to equality on our side, and we’ll be doing everything we can to ensure the rights of workers and their families remain intact.

We’re seeing the benefit of workers banding together here in the NSW Loco industry too. We’ve had some big safety wins at local depots, thanks to the vigilance of members and the commitment of members at Sydney and NSW Trains has forced Rail Entities putting forward and enterprise agreement exponentially better than that originally put on the table.

Voting on the Rail Entities enterprise agreement has now opened. Your postal ballot should have arrived with you by now; if it hasn’t, please contact your local delegate. These are your rights and wages, so make sure you take the time to carefully read over the EBA and ask your local delegate if you have any questions before casting your vote.

I trust you’ll enjoy this edition of Loco Express. Stay safe on the tracks.

Bob Hayden
Secretary, Loco Division

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