A concerning lack of urgency in bargaining
7 November 2024
Dear Members,
This week we continued bargaining with Sydney Trains and NSW Trains prosecuting members’ important claims on conditions. The claims and conditions we spoke about are as follows:
- Claim 5 – 8% pay rise with sunset
- Claim 30 – Overtime on the day for Section 4
- Claim 78 – Gold Pass after 20 years service
- Claim 35(b) – Average pay on Leave
- Claim 61 – Fair Decision Framework to be applied by People and Culture for conduct matters
- Claim 31 – Payroll to be brought back in house
- Claim 140 – ULCP increase
- Claim 139(g) – Afternoon/Night Shift Penalty increase for Section 5
- Claim 13(b) – Training (Buddy) Allowance
- Claim 128(e) – Part-Time CSAs Overtime after contracted hours
- Claim 128(a) – Single man station CSA regrade
- Claim 125 – Package of Signallers Claims
- Claim 109(a) & (b) – Higher Standards & Adverse Weather Allowance for Section 3
- Claim 81 – Site Rates for contractors working on Sydney & NSW Trains sites
- Claim 117 – Relief line start times for Guards
- Claim 118 – All alterations payable based on the schedule book
- Claim 122 – Driver Trainer provisions
- Claim 120(a) – On-Boarders to be classified as Train Crew
- Claim 90(a) – Include Transport Officer classification and specific conditions
- Claim 92(c) – Introduce morning shift allowance in Section 2
- Claim 13(a) – Meal allowance paid for any shift extension
- Claim 100 – Shift allowances to match Train Crew quantum’s
- Claim 101 – Introduce provisions for changes to spare shifts
- Claim 102 – Transfers on seniority for Section 2
There was little to no progress made on any of these claims despite some passionate advocacy from our EA delegates.
We also pushed management to give us a position on our wages claim. This was not only the 8% claim, but also the claim for a sunset pay rise. Unfortunately, there is a curious refusal to engage on any meaningful level with these claims.
All of this would be humorous if it wasn’t so serious.
The government last week expressed a desire to finalise the enterprise agreement before the end of the year. Despite this, a lackadaisical attitude at the bargaining table combined with a relaxed meeting schedule doesn’t match their ambition.
It is becoming abundantly apparent that the Transport Minister is not taking our bargain seriously, expecting somebody else to come in and rescue the situation.
But no one is coming.
The rail network needs us – without us, the network simply cannot operate. This is not confined to heavy rail, it includes metro, light rail, and buses.
Over the next week, we will be notifying more actions, adding to the pressure we are currently exerting. Keep an eye on your emails for that. If you have any questions, please contact your delegate.
Finally, as foreshadowed in our email earlier this week, the table for our 24hr running and reducing kilometre actions is below. It can also be found on our website, www.fightingforourfuture.com.au.
*The limitations in the table for Intercity Drivers and Intercity Guards do not apply to Scone working.