Lockout notices in response to our reducing KMs ban – what to do about them
22 December 2024
Dear Members,
This morning, all Train Crew members received notices under s.471 of the Fair Work Act regarding the reduction in kilometres ban, which is scheduled to resume tomorrow.
The effect of this notice is clear- if Crew report for duty tomorrow and indicate that they are participating in the ban, Sydney/NSW Trains will refuse to accept any work from you, and you will not be entitled to payment.
This is a lockout.
It is a tactic employed by the lowest of the low employers to financially punish workers, exploiting the fact that many may already be struggling to make ends meet. It’s a shameful strategy designed to coerce compliance through financial pressure.
A page from Qantas’ playbook
Some of you may recall a similar strategy used by Qantas in 2011. On 29 October 2011, Alan Joyce grounded the Qantas fleet and leveraged the situation to secure a section 424 order to terminate bargaining, effectively crushing the union bargaining strategy.
Today, the NSW Government has adopted the same playbook. By threatening to lock out Train Crew who take Protected Industrial Action tomorrow, they aim to shut down the entire rail network triggering the same outcome as in Qantas.
We will not let Minns, Haylen, and their allies succeed
To outmanoeuvre this underhanded tactic and protect our bargaining position, we strongly recommend that all Crew members:
- Attend work tomorrow
- Work to the conditions of the DRAWA and GRAWA agreements
All other industrial actions remain active and in place. Speak to your local representative for guidance on how to escalate pressure on management while avoiding their traps.
Adapting to dirty tactics
While it’s frustrating to have to adjust our planned actions, our ability to pivot and respond strategically is crucial in the face of these dishonest and immoral manoeuvres.
Make no mistake – while the NSW Labor Government is leading this unconscionable tactic, Sydney Trains senior management is eagerly complicit. Their role in the infamous 2022 lockout showed their willingness to act without regard for workers and their families, and this time is no different. Without mentioning specific names, the cronies in Sydney Trains senior executive management are at the centre of a virtue-less cabal of tyrants, sycophants and charlatans – Members should never forget what they’ve done.
Regards
Toby Warnes
Branch Secretary
RTBU NSW