22 minute read
New Intercity Fleet Campaign
Our campaign for safety on the New Intercity Fleet has continued with NSW Trains and the NSW Government getting increasingly desperate to force the NIF into revenue service.
Despite the action of members, a win in the Fair Work Commission, and an independent safety report that clearly states the operating model is not safe, it seems the NSW Government will stop at nothing in trying to force members to crew an unsafe train.,
Constance has got to be joking
On April 1, Transport Minister Andrew Constance told the media the New InterCity Fleet would be in revenue services “in a few weeks.” It must have been an April Fool’s Joke as the NSW Premier and Transport Minister is well aware that no roll-out of the New Intercity Fleet is possible until all safety concerns are resolved with the rail workforce. The Transport Minister then escalated, threatening members at a meeting with Senior RTBU Officials. He told us that he would force Driver Only Operations across BOTH the Sydney and NSW Trains network unless we accepted the New Intercity Fleet into revenue service. He asked us to pass this threat on to members, which we did. Members were understandably shocked that the Government would stoop to this level.
We will not be blackmailed
In late April, NSW Trains attempted to blackmail Guards and Drivers and force the NIF into revenue service. They offered a pay increase of 4% to drivers and a sign-on bonus of $2500 for both Guards and Drivers. NSW Trains made this financial offer without taking any steps to address the numerous safety concerns raised by Delegates, HSRs, and the Independent Safety Report. Delegates unanimously rejected this offer, making it very clear to NSW Trains and the NSW Government that safety is always our number one priority.
NSW Trains on Tour
Following this rejection, management from NSW Trains attempted a Depot Tour trying to convince members that their preferred operating model is safe. The anger from members was palpable as NSW Train Senior Managers tried to convince them to ignore the independent safety report and take their word their proposed model was safe. RTBU members stood firm and told management precisely what they thought of their games.
Legal Action Against Workers
Following managements’ failed Depot tour, NSW Trains decided to employ another tactic. At 5.25 pm on May 7 (in the legal world, they call this a five o’clock special), the RTBU received notification that NSW Trains and Transport for NSW are suing their own workers in a desperate attempt to force the unsafe NIF into revenue service. In an unnecessary act of aggression, NSW Trains and the NSW Government are coming after their workforce, who are rightly standing up for safety. They are saying if we refuse to put the community at risk and not crew the NIF on safety grounds, we are taking unlawful industrial action. We will, of course, fight this act of aggression like we have in every step of this campaign by standing together and standing up for safety.
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Join the RTBU Retired Members Association
Many retired members continue to receive copies of the journal Rail & Road, and take an interest in the life of the union. Many have also said that they would like to maintain a closer connection and involvement with the work of the union. The RTBU Retired Members Association was established to provide a forum for former members to meet, work on campaigns, address issues of particular relevance for retirees and to identify ways of assisting, supporting and contributing to the work of the union. It is expected that the Retired Members Association will function independently and pursue issues that it identifies as priorities. If you are a retired member of our union, we would like you to consider joining the Retired Members Association. Membership forms are available from the RTBU Head Office, Level 4, 321 Pitt Street, Sydney or on the union website: www.rtbu-nsw.asn.au
For more information, contact Peter O’Connor at the union office on (02) 9264 2511 For more information, contact Chris Doyle on 0438 859 607 or the union office on (02) 9264 2511
Page 14 raIL & rOaD June 2010
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Engineman Hits 100 Not Out
Frederich Phillip Victor Abel, engineman of Kempsey Locomotive Depot, which was a sub-depot of Taree, recently reached the milestone of 100 years young on 23 April 2021. I don’t think too many of our members get to reach this milestone. Fred Abel joined the then NSW Railways as a casual cleaner on 7th October 1940 at Junee, and for some reason he was ‘dispensed’ on 30th December 1940. He was once again employed as a casual cleaner 5 days later on 5th January 1941, only to be ‘dispensed’ again on 19th April 1941, and re-employed 10 days later on 28th April 1941, and appointed Cleaner on 5th July 1942. He was appointed as Fireman on 8th August 1944 at Junee, and appointed as Driver at Junee on 1st September 1950. Fred transferred to Kempsey Locomotive Depot and took up duties on 24th June 1954. He remained a Driver at Kempsey until his retirement on 12th July 1981. Fred was from a railway family, born at Werris Creek on 23rd April 1921, where his father, Friditch Hyndritch Abel was employed as a Fireman. The Abel dynasty have a long history of employment in the NSW Railways, totalling hundreds of years in all. Family member were employed as Drivers, Firemen, Signalmen, and Fettlers, to name a few. Fred’s family originated in Germany, but the original spelling used to be Ebel, and was changed to Abel some hundreds of years ago. Fred’s forefathers came from England in the 1800s. Fred married Millie Elizabeth Dean on 26th July 1941, and they were delighted with five children, three boys and two girls. Unfortunately, one girl passed away at a very early age. Fred has nine grandchildren, and twenty three great grandchildren, and five great great grandchildren. Employed at Junee Locomotive Depot as a Fireman and Driver, Fred would be one of the last Enginemen to be qualified for the 57 Class locomotives. In 1929, the 57 Class locomotives emerged as the biggest and most powerful steam locomotives Australia has ever seen. Its ability to haul up to 2000 tonnes of freight effortlessly over steep terrain, earned it the nickname ‘Lazy Lizzy’. This class of locomotive was in service for 32 years. Fred Abel was also qualified as Fireman and Driver on the 38 Class locomotives. At the time of Fred’s retirement, Mr A Shaw, Personnel Manager of State Rail Regional North, wrote “I would like to take this opportunity of thanking you for your services to the Authority, and wish you a long and happy retirement”. Fred has taken the advice, and we wish him well in reaching his 100 year milestone.
(Supplied by Barry Seghers and Garry Zimmerman) Photos supplied (Fred and 57 Class)
Werris Creek Train Driver Finally Steps off the Footplate
Local newspapers in February 2020 (and reproduced in Rail and Road, March 2020) reported how the then 80 year old train driver, Peter Sawtell, had clocked up 65 years of railway service and said he had no plans to retire any time soon. In April this year, Peter finally stepped down from the footplate.
Mr Sawtell was a few months shy of 16 when he moved to the Liverpool Plains for work after growing up on a dairy farm in Dorrigo. He started out with NSW Railways on February 1, 1955 as a shop boy and lived at Mrs Faulkner’s boarding house. He officially came off the roster at Werris Creek Regional NSW TrainLink depot on Saturday 24 April 2021. Peter’s innings on the railway came to 66 years, two months, 3 weeks and 3 days. It would take a very thorough search of the archives to find anyone who had a longer period of service on the NSW railways. Workmates and colleagues of Mr Sawtell, gathered at Werris Creek Bowling club on April 27, 2021 to farewell their comrade and to share some good railway yarns. Mr Sawtell said he earnt “12 pounds 2 and six pence a fortnight” and worked Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 3.30pm. His tasks included picking up waste, collecting dirty rags used by the fitters, and cleaning the tanks of the steam trains. “You climb down inside and take a little dust pan and broom and sweep them out. It was usually about 100 degrees,” he said. After a few years, Mr Sawtell progressed to a call boy. “I used to go round on a pushbike around town and call the men for work, mostly of a night-time between 6pm and 6am,” he said. He said it was “a good job” and he received more money. Eighteen months later, he moved up the ladder to become a “cleaner”. “You used to rub the [trains] down with black oil. You were pretty dirty when you were finished,” he said. About two years later, Mr Sawtell was promoted to acting fireman and started travelling on the trains to towns including Narrabri, Muswellbrook and Armidale. “I used to shovel the coal and kept the steam up for the driver,” he said. He said sometimes the coal supply near the shovelling place in the tender would run out, so he’d have to climb into the tender and shovel it forward, and “this is while you were moving”. From there, Mr Sawtell graduated to a permanent fireman and then went on to become an acting driver. “I didn’t find it difficult; a lot of people do. You just get the hang of it. Some people have got it and some people haven’t,” he said. About a year later, in the early 1960s, Mr Sawtell became a fully fledged driver. About this time, he met Bev Baker during a game of squash. She had moved from Barraba to Quirindi to work as a nurse at the hospital. They married in 1963 and raised seven children. Over the years, Mr Sawtell has watched trains evolve from steam to diesel to electric. “I like the change. It was a bit challenging,” he said. Mr Sawtell said if trains broke down these days, “you’ve got to be able to fix them on the way now”, and time was of the essence. “They seem to have more focus on that now. You run to a pretty tight schedule because of all the other trains,” he said. Among the pearls of wisdom he has to offer is the motto: “if you’re not sure, put the brake on”. At the time of his 65 year service milestone, Mr Sawtell was one of the longest-serving drivers with NSW Railways and still worked
Peter Sawtell receiving his recognition for 65 years service in February 2020. about 90 hours a fortnight. “They call me number one - most senior in state,” he said. The train driver’s one stipulation has always been that he lives in Werris Creek. “They wanted me to move around but I wanted to stay in the one place,” he said. Mr Sawtell has been described as “quite a character” and is known for his sense of humour, but said “no matter what job you do, you make friends, you make enemies”. When Australian Community Media asked him why he stuck around, he simply said: “I just like being a driver. You’re always going somewhere. Every trip’s different”. This basis for this story is drawn from ‘Number one’ driver celebrates 65 years with NSW Railways which first appeared on Namoi Valley Independent. Reproduced with the kind permission of The Northern Daily Leader
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RTBU Members can also take advantage of the United Services Union’s Riverside Resort at Port Macquarie
The RTBU and USU have a reciprocal arrangement where members of each union can book holidays at the two locations, at member discounted rates. The USU owns the Riverside resort, in a glorious location on the Hastings River at Port Macquarie on the north coast of New South Wales. The resort consists of a Motel and a Caravan Park.
Stay in comfort at the holiday resort and enjoy great discounts and great style while relaxing in what many say is the best climate in Australia.
No matter what type of holiday you are after your needs are covered. Lots to do any time of the year! There are a lot of attractions in the area for you and your family – have a great game of Putt-Putt golf or try Jet boating, Parra Sailing, Waterslides, Wave Bowling & Lawn Bowls which are all within walking distance. And don’t forget the fishing! Please note – there are no tent sites at the Port Macquarie Caravan Park. You can contact the motel or caravan park by calling the Riverside Resort on 02 65849155 or check the website at www.riversideresortatport.com.au You can also call the United Services Union’s Head Offi ce on 02 9265 8211 for more information.
Members must provide proof of identity plus their RTBU membership card at the time of arrival at Jervis Bay or Port Macquarie or full rates will apply. United Services Union
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Located in the Booderee National Park, the RTBU Holiday Park at Jervis Bay, is just a 3 hour drive south from Sydney, but a world away… Each of the 14 self-contained cabins sleep up to a maximum of 6 people. Cabins have a queen sized bed, two single beds and a set of double bunks. You will need to bring your own sheets as only mattress protectors, quilts and pillows are supplied. The cabins contain a digital television, an oven, microwave, fridge, crockery, cutlery, glassware, pots and pans as well as basic cooking utensils. Make sure you come prepared as the closest grocery shop is in Vincentia, a 30 minute drive away. The RTBU Holiday Park facilities available to all guests include a Boat Ramp, Undercover Bar-B-Q area with seating, Tennis Court and a Coin Operated Laundry. There are various swimming spots to enjoy and natural areas to explore, suitable for all the family. Kangaroos, possums, wallabies, kookaburras, bandicoots, echidnas and rosellas visit the grounds of the Holiday Park daily. Enjoy fishing for whiting, flathead and bream from the calm shores or take a quick walk to experience beach fishing for tailor and salmon on the pristine Bherwerre Beach. Bookings can be made by telephoning the RTBU Office on (02) 9264 2511.
Booderee National Park & Bherwerre Beach
In the Dhurga language, Booderee means “Bay of Plenty” and the area is the home to the people of Wreck Bay. The Booderee National Park has the only Aboriginal owned Botanic Garden in Australia. The gardens are well known for providing a centre for interpreting plants used by the local aboriginal people. The Park is also home to 200 species of birds, over 30 different native mammals including 10 species of bats, 37 reptiles, 17 amphibians and at least 180 species of fish. The White-Bellied Sea Eagle is a special bird at Booderee as it is the guardian of the Koori people of Wreck Bay and features on the Booderee National Park logo. Within the Booderee National Park you will find beautiful white sandy beaches at Green Patch, Murrays, Steamers, Caves and Bherwerre. Bherwerre is home to some of the Boderee National Parks rarer seabirds. Pods of bottle-nose dolphins are often spotted playing in the waves at the Sussex Inlet Entrance and Humpback whales have been known to enter the protected areas close to shore.
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MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM
Surname Given Name(s)
Street Address Suburb Gender
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I, the undersigned, hereby apply to become a member of the Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union, an Organisation of employees registered under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 as amended, and hereby undertake to comply with the Rules and By-Laws for the time being of the Union. Signature of Applicant Dated I, the undersigned, hereby apply to become a member of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union of New South Wales, an Organisation registered under the Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW) as amended, and hereby undertake to comply with the Rules and By-Laws for the time being of the Union. Signature of Applicant Dated
1. I agree to pay $ via DIRECT DEBIT fortnightly OR CREDIT CARD fortnightly. or any other amounts as may be determined from time to time in accordance with the Rules of the Union.
I certify that I have received a copy of Rule 14, Notification of Resignation From Membership. 2. I/We authorise and request the Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union, until further notice in writing to arrange for my/ our account described in this direct debit authority, to be debited with any amounts which the debit user may properly debit or charge me/us through the direct debit system. 3. I/We authorise my employer to notify the Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union of any change of address during my employment. 4. I/We authorise and request this direct debit authority to remain in force until cancelled, deferred or otherwise altered in accordance with this service agreement. Signature of Applicant Dated
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Union. 4. A notice delivered to the Branch Secretary shall be deemed to have been received by when it was delivered. 5. A notice of resignation that has been received by the Union is not invalid because it was not addressed and delivered the Branch Secretary. 6. Resignation from membership of the Union is valid even if it is not affected in accordance with this Rule, if the member is informed in writing by or on behalf of the Union that the resignation has been accepted.
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Level 4, 321 Pitt Street Sydney NSW 2000 Tel (02) 9264 2511 Fax (02) 9264 1342 E-mail nswho@rtbu-nsw.asn.au Website www.rtbu-nsw.asn.au R AILTRAM AND BUS
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