Transport NOW, January 2022

transport

NOW

THE NATIONAL

MEMBER

NEWSLETTER of the

RAIL, TRAM &

BUS UNION ISSUE

#

0018

JANUARY 2022

Making it happen National Council sets course for next two years

RTBU plans election blitz

Albo puts High Speed Rail back on the table

WWW.RTBU.ORG.AU/TRANSPORT_NOW

Just a sec!

For many of us, the end of 2021 couldn’t come fast enough.

It was another difficult year when, thanks to the pandemic, we couldn’t do many of the things that give our lives meaning and joy.

But the work we do never stopped, and RTBU members continued to keep our transport networks moving.

If it wasn’t for our members, Australia would have simply ground to a halt.

Our Union didn’t stop either.

We continued to negotiate new Enterprise Agreements, to represent members in disputes with belligerent employers, to fight for the rights and safety of transport workers, and to campaign for good secure jobs in our industries.

In November we also held our bi-ennial National Council, which - for the first time in our history was held as an on-line event. The uncertainty of constantly-changing COVID-restrictions made organising National Council particularly difficult, but we were still able to have a very successful and productive couple of days.

As we put this magazine together, it’s clear that the COVID crisis entering a new and dangerous phase, with the Omicron variant spreading at an alarming rate. Protecting the health of our members remains the RTBU’s most urgent priority during this time.

There are some things that we can’t change, some things that we can, and there are others that we can at least try to influence. The upcoming Federal election falls into the last category. On our own we can’t choose the Government, but we can use our collective voice to raise issues that matter to RTBU members. This election is going to be critically important for the future of our industries and the country, and therefore we all have a responsibility to get involved in the democratic process.

That’s why our union will soon be launching the Put Transport Back in the Fast Lane campaign. The campaign will help us to put the future of our industries firmly into the Federal election mix. I encourage all members to get involved in the campaign at a local level, and to support candidates who support rail, tram and bus workers.

I hope all members were able to enjoy some rest and family time over the Christmas and New Year period.

In Unity, Mark Diamond NATIONAL SECRETARY

This election is going to be critically important for the future of our industries and the country, and therefore we all have a responsibility to get involved in the democratic process.

All stops 4

Your union is making it happen

5

RTBU plans election blitz

6

Albo puts High-Speed Rail back on the table

8

Paid domestic violence leave saves lives The big issues: Casual and insecure work – causes and 10 consequences

9

11

TAS: Tassie bus drivers fed up with threatenting and violent behaviour

12 NSW: Rail workers dig in

13

Transport NOW Editorial Team

WA/PTA: Wages cap campaign

15 bears fruit

16 VIC: Posters turning heads and winning hearts

17 QLD: Sounding the alarm on deadly dust

18 SA/NT: Privatisation to be key issue in SA election

19 WA: Spreading the word about union power

20 What we’ve been reading: The Game, by Sean Kelly

Published by Mark Diamond, RTBU National Secretary Edited by Stewart Prins, RTBU Executive Director Articles by Mark Southcott and Stewart Prins Designed by Rémi Bianchi Keep up to date with RTBU news at www.rtbu.org.au/ transport_now or follow us on social media ! RTBU Australia " facebook.com/ RTBUnion)

RTBU TRANSPORT NOW OCTOBER 2021 3

YOUR UNION IS MAKING IT HAPPEN Despite the limitations of ongoing travel restrictions, the RTBU National Council was held on 10 November, with over 50 Delegates in six meeting rooms across six states, and the remaining Delegates tuning in via video-link from their homes.

Delegates delivered 18 reports, heard three guest speakers and passed 45 motions in just six jam-packed hours.

Some of the highlights of National Council included:

» Confirmation of National

Office’s Operational Plan for 2022;

» Adopting rule changes to

confirm the amalgamation of the two Western Australian branches from 1 January 2023;

» Addresses from Shadow Minister for Industrial relations Tony Burke MP and ACTU Secretary Sally McManus;

» Approving a campaign strate-

gy for the forthcoming Federal election;

» Committing to campaign for

more Australian-made trains, trams and buses.

Speaking at the National Council, National Secretary Mark Diamond told Delegates that working people, on their own, were sitting ducks for powerful corporations and the financial elite.

“But when we act collectively, when we are united, and when we have each other’s back, we’re right in the game,” Mark said.

“The formation of the modern RTBU - from the amalgamation of the ARU, AFULE, ATMOEA and NUR – was all about leveraging our power and building a stronger voice for union members.

“Our predecessors had a vision, and determination, to better the lives of workers in the rail, tram and bus industries.

“Our mission, our sacred duty as custodians of this great trade union, is to deliver on that vision. To make it happen.”

4 RTBU TRANSPORT NOW OCTOBER 2021

You can find a link to the National Office Operation Plan and to a video of Mark’s Diamond’s opening address on the RTBU website at www.rtbu.org.au/ making it happen

… when we have each other’s back, we’re right in the game

RTBU PLANS ELECTION BLITZ Transport issues to be front and centre in Federal election campaign The RTBU is planning a coordinated national campaign called Put Transport Back in the Fast Lane to make sure pollies take transport seriously during the upcoming federal election.

“We’ll be calling on politicians to back new projects for rail freight and public transport, and to support the growth of good secure jobs in the transport sector.”

National Secretary Mark Diamond said transport should be one of the top issues for voters right around the country.

Mark said the campaign would be built on grass-roots activism, with local teams getting out in their communities. Election candidates will be invited to sign the ‘Fast Lane pledge’, and voters will be told which candidates have signed up - and which ones haven’t.

“While much of Australia was in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s transport networks kept on going.

“But the reality is that many of those networks are slow, congested, and falling apart.

“That has an impact on the cost of living, on the amount of time people can spend with their families, and the health of the overall economy.

“The Federal election is likely to be very tight, and every vote will count.

“Politicians will be listening – so there’s no better time for the voices of transport workers and their families to be heard.”

The FAST LANE Pledge for Federal Candidates I pledge to support measures that lead to faster, safer and better passenger and freight transport networks across Australia, including:

» Building more trains, trams and buses in Australia;

» Increasing Federal invest-

ment in public transport to provide Australians with better access to services and reduce our transport-related greenhouse gas emissions;

» Developing a long-term

plan to grow jobs in the rail freight sector

» Better integration of rail,

rail, sea and air transport; and

» Ensuring people doing the same job have the same pay and same standards of workplace safety.

ALBO PUTS HIGH-SPEED RAIL BACK ON THE TABLE Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has committed $500 million in Labor’s first Budget to begin corridor acquisition, planning and early works on a HighSpeed Rail Link between Sydney and Newcastle.

The commitment puts High-Speed Rail back on the table after a decade of inaction under successive Liberal-National Party governments.

Anthony Albanese said High Speed Rail on this route would ultimately deliver speeds of over 250 km/h, and could include stops on the Central Coast - with Wyong and Gosford the likely options.

“This would cut the journey from Sydney to Newcastle down to just 45 minutes from the current two-and-ahalf-hour trip,” he said.

“It would also only take half an hour to get from Sydney to Gosford on the new route.”

Anthony Albanese said the most recent report into high-speed rail – commissioned by the former Federal Labor Government – identified the Sydney to Newcastle Corridor as the first component of a line from Melbourne to Brisbane.

“With the population of the Hunter Valley and Central Coast forecast grow by close to 200,000 people by 2040, Labor knows that planning for Australia’s long-term future requires vision, dedication and a commitment to work cooperatively with the states and territories,” he said.

6 RTBU TRANSPORT NOW OCTOBER 2021

Anthony Albanese also said a Labor Federal Government would make this stage of works a key priority for a new High-Speed Rail Authority.

“For too long, High-Speed Rail has been little more than a pipe dream.

An Albanese Labor Government would actually start work on this nation-building project.”

National Secretary Mark Diamond said Australia is decades behind other comparable countries when it comes to passenger rail infrastructure.

“The pandemic, and the associated increase in people in working from home, has increased the trend of Australians seeking to move away from the major cities,” Mark said.

“This should be opening up massive opportunities for regional areas to grow and prosper – but the regions are being held back by critical failures in our national infrastructure.

“Investment in rail infrastructure is good for the regions, good for the environment, and good for jobs.”

This would cut the journey from Sydney to Newcastle down to just 45 minutes from the current two-and-a-half-hour trip

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3. Look at what the health fund stands for. Do they stand with the employer or do they stand with the workforce?

our values. We knew that Union Health shared our core

“Union Health has the tools to support you to compare what you tend to claim over the course of a year and come

He gave Union Health a call.

through everything together over the phone. It was

Peter’s advice to anyone considering a switch to Union Health is: “If you’re considering changing your provider, there are three key things to think about: 1. Who are you giving your money to? Is it a big

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PAID DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LEAVE SAVES LIVES Five cents a day per worker: that’s all it would cost employers for 10 days’ family and domestic violence leave to be implemented across Australia.

The figure was a key statistic raised during a Hunter Workers rally at Newcastle’s Civic Park in December to mark the end of its 16 Days of Activism campaign and its call for paid family and domestic violence leave.

Attendees at the rally heard from speakers including Newcastle Federal MP Sharon Claydon, community sector worker Teanile Grant, Hunter Worker’s secretary Leigh Shears, and RTBU Vice President Leanne Holmes.

Leanne, who also chairs Hunter Workers’ women’s committee, says that, on average, one woman is killed in Australia every week as a result of intimate-partner violence.

The financial cost of escaping that violence is estimated to be around $18,000, which is out of reach of most women at that critical time.

Leanne said being able to hold down a job is vital for domestic violence victims, as many women are forced to return to their abuser if they can’t financially support themselves.

“Paid family and domestic violence leave literally saves lives,” Leanne said.

“Within our union we actively bargain for paid family and domestic violence

8 RTBU TRANSPORT NOW OCTOBER 2021

STOP PRESS

The RTBU and other unions negotiating to get a number are of domestic violence-related pro visions included in the new Syd Trains and NSW Trains En ney terprise Agreement.

These provisions include:

» 10 days of paid domestic

and family violence leave and the support of a nominated person at work;

» a requirement for em-

ployers to regularly check the employee’s electronic devices have not been installed with any tracking, listening or other surveillance devices; and » training and counselling on gendered violence in the workplace to be provided to all new employees.

escaping. But doing nothing often leaves them trapped. leave in our enterprise agreements, and we and other unions have been quite successful.

“But we are asking the Federal Government to put it in the National Employment Standards, so all workers have access to 10 day’s paid leave.

It would be very inexpensive and wouldn’t cost employers much – a mere 5 cents per worker per day.”

Leanne said that providing survivors with direct support through their employer, in the form paid leave, increases their chances of holding down their job long-term and successfully

“For women in this situation, their job is the first thing to go,” Leanne said. “They are forced to use up their sick leave, any other leave they have, then they lose their job.

“Then, not only do they end up with no income, they are often forced to stay with the abuser.

“Ten days’ paid leave would give them a buffer. It would give them the time to move out, go to court, and deal with all the other stuff.

“And not only does it mean they continue in meaningful employment, it also means the business will retain qualified and skilled workers.”

THE BIG ISSUES Casual and Insecure Work – Causes and Consequences THE GROWTH OF PRECARIOUS EMPLOYMENT

Permanent Full-Time

6.5m

Gig Workers

Casual Full-Time

1m

0.9m

Once upon a time, a ‘normal’ job consisted of full- time waged work with normal entitlements (like paid leave Self and superannuation). But that practice Employed has been eroded badly in recent years and today various forms of insecure Casual and casual work have become domiPart-Time nant. Especially for young workers, the idea of a permanent waged job with normal entitlements now seems like a Figure 1: Forms of Employment (millions), Australia 2019 far-off dream.

2.1m

Permanent Part-Time

1.6m

1.8m

Insecure or ‘precarious’ employment comes in many forms. In Australia, about one in four waged employees is hired on a casual basis: meaning they have no guarantee of continuing work, they are not entitled to notice or compensation for severance, and they are denied basic benefits like annual leave or paid sick leave. Casual work was originally intended for jobs with inherent seasonal or business fluctuations. But the practice surged after economic restructuring in the 1980s and 1990s and is now common in most industries and occupations.

However, casual work is just one of many forms of insecure or precarious employment. Other kinds of insecure work include most part-time jobs, labour-hire and other temporary positions, many contractors, most self-employment (especially sole-traders with no employees), and workers in the ‘gig’ economy.

Because of the expansion of all these forms of insecure work, a minority of Australian workers now enjoy the security and protections traditionally provided by stable, waged employment.

By 2019, even before COVID-19, less than half of working Australians held a permanent full-time waged job with paid leave. Most worked in casual, parttime, self-employed, and gig jobs (see Figure 1).

WHY DO EMPLOYERS PREFER PRECARIOUS JOBS? In previous decades, most workers (around 70%) held a ‘normal’ full-time permanent job with entitlements.

Casual and part-time work was rare.

The resulting job security underpinned steady progress in living standards through the post-war era. Today, unfortunately, the growing precariousness of employment contributes to insecurity, inequality, and family and social stress.

Why have employers expanded insecure work practices (like casual, labour hire, and gigs)? They seek a ‘just-in-time’ workforce: one they can upsize and downsize at will, to match fluctuations in business conditions or consumer demand. If business declines, workers (not employers) bear the costs. And insecure employment allows employers to evade many normal costs, like paid leave, sick pay, and (for contractors and gig workers) superannuation and workers compensation.

to join a union. In short, a permanently insecure workforce has been a deliberate goal of long-run efforts of business to exert more power and control over workplaces and workers.

INSECURE WORK AND WAGE STAGNATION The expansion of insecure work has contributed to the unprecedented stagnation of Australian wages. Since 2013, nominal wages have grown just 2.0 per cent per year — barely half its historic pace. Real wages (after inflation) have been totally flat. The COVID-19 pandemic made matters even worse.

The overuse of casual and other insecure work produces other harmful impacts for workers, their families, and society. For example, casual employees cannot typically attain mortgage financing for property purchases and other major family investments.

The lack of paid sick leave for casual and gig workers is especially There’s another motive leading dangerous. If insecure workers take employers to expand insecure employunpaid leave when ill (or exposed to ment. When workers are permanently a disease like COVID-19), they face a on edge, wondering if they’ll have a job painful financial penalty. Many will next month, they’re more likely to acfeel compelled to work anyway. This carmichaelcentre.org.au cept employer demands, no matter how undermines their own health, and that unfair. They won’t ask for a raise. They of their colleagues, customers, and the won’t complain about unsafe condipublic. tions. And above all, they are less likely

RTBU TRANSPORT NOW OCTOBER 2021 9

Gig Workers

1m

Permanent

Casual

Casual Penalty

Hourly

$38.56

$28.47

-26.2%

Weekly

$1300

$624

-52.0%

Table 1: Permanent and Casual Wages, 2020 Insecure work also undermines occupational health and safety due to inadequate training and orientation; fear of reprisals for speaking out about safety concerns; and too-frequent job changes. Similarly, workers in casual and insecure jobs have less ability to confront sexual assault or harassment in the workplace, or family and domestic abuse at home.

FIGHTING FOR SECURE JOBS Without urgent changes in policy, the expansion of insecure work in all its forms will certainly continue. Previous recessions (in the 1980s and 1990s) produced a permanent uptick in casual employment. A similar outcome is likely after the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. Insecure work will be further reinforced by the Coalition Government’s 2021 changes to the Fair Work Act, which explicitly endorsed employers’ right to hire casual workers in any role they desire. Meanwhile, contracting out, gig work, and labour hire further continue to undermine the once-dominant ideal of permanent full-time work with entitlements.

10 RTBU TRANSPORT NOW OCTOBER 2021

Casual and insecure work reflects a very one-sided vision of ‘flexibility.’

Employers can hire and fire precisely when desired. But the risks and costs to workers are painful and unfair. Australia urgently needs policies to limit insecure employment, and support better, more stable jobs. Casual work should be limited to jobs with inherent and ongoing fluctuations. Basic protections (like paid sick leave) must be provided to all workers, regardless of status. And the creation of secure, decent jobs must be the top priority of economic policy as Australia recovers from the pandemic.

In theory, casual workers are supposed to receive loading over and above their base rate. In reality, they earn much less than permanent staff. Median hourly wages for casual employees were 26% lower in August 2020 than for permanent employees (Table 1).

That’s the mirror image of the supposed 25% casual loading premium prescribed in many Modern Awards.

The earnings penalty is compounded by inadequate hours of work: median weekly earnings are 52 per cent lower for casual workers.

There are many reasons insecure workersSelf earn lower wages. In practice, Employed half or fewer casual workers are actu2.1m ally paid their full loading, due to lack Casual of information or enforcement.

Even Part-Time when loading is paid, the baseline against which it is calculated1.8m can be manipulated by employers; permanent staff are typically assigned to higher wage categories. Insecure workers rarely ask for a wage increase, knowing they could be let go on the spot. Finally, lack of access to promotion and advancement opportunities further suppresses wages for workers in casual and other insecure positions.

Underpayment of insecure workers hurts the broader economy by reducing household incomes and suppressing consumer spending. For example, if Australia’s 2.6 million casual employees were paid the same as permanent workers, their hourly wages would grow by $10, and total wage payouts across the economy would increase by $30 billion. That would provide a badly needed boost to worker incomes and consumer spending.

carmichaelcentre.org.au

Pe P

BRANCH

! NEWS

TAS

TASSIE BUS DRIVERS FED UP WITH THREATENTING AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR Tasmanian bus drivers have had a gutful of the increasing level of aggressive anti-social behaviour on Metro buses.

These concerns came to a head when two off-duty drivers were recognised and assaulted by known troublemakers.

Almost 150 Metro employees signed a petition calling on Metro to take action to protect drivers and passengers, while Branch Secretary Ric Bean also wrote to management just before Christmas reminding them of Metro’s legal obligation to provide its employees with a safe workplace.

“There has been a very worrying escalation in the threats and violence directed at members in recent times – particularly around the Rokeby area,” Ric said.

how many authorised officers Metro employs or plans to employ?”

In response, the CEO said that Tasmania Police has four officers dedicated whose jobs is to “support and foster a safe and secure travel environment for all passengers.”

Ric Bean said this is simply not enough.

“At the very least, there should be a trained Authorised Officer on every service that is identified as a high-risk, and a mobile presence in known highrisk areas that would enable a quick response as required.

“It absolutely cannot continue as it is, with anti-social behaviour incidences becoming more serious and increasing in frequency.

“The union will continue to ramp up pressure on Metro and the State Government for action to support increased safety to members.”

There has been a very worrying escalation in the threats and violence directed at members in recent times

“We believe it is incumbent on Metro to provide a security presence on or around buses to provide a safe workplace for members, and to actually remove services from those areas that present an extreme risk until a longer-term solution is determined.”

The growing concern over anti-social behaviour was also raised in Parliament by Opposition Leader Rebecca White, after Ric provided the Opposition with a list of issues relating to Metro Tasmania and TasRail.

Ms White used a Government Business Enterprises Scrutiny Hearing to ask Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael Ferguson and Metro CEO Katie Cooper some probing questions about safety and other issues on behalf of the RTBU. “What strategies Metro has for dealing with antisocial behaviour and targeting fare evasion, which is also a problem, that can offer increased protection to both the employees and the travelling public,” Ms White asked.

“As part of that answer perhaps you could also update the committee on RTBU TRANSPORT NOW OCTOBER 2021 11

BRANCH

! NEWS

NSW

RAIL WORKERS DIG IN It was a less-than-merry Christmas for the NSW Government with the RTBU forced to roll out a Protected Action Advent Calendar after long-running enterprise bargaining talks with Transport for NSW (TfNSW) stalled.

The advent calendar highlighted a number of RTBU bans and actions, including:

» A work-to-rule; » Station staff and shunters

wearing union gear and shorts;

» Bans on cleaning up hazardous waste and graffiti;

» Network-wide overnight stoppages;

NSW Branch Secretary Alex Claassens said members were left with no choice but to take further protected industrial action, with the Government playing Uncle Scrooge and negotiations for a new Enterprise Agreement seemingly going nowhere.

» Train drivers blowing whistles

“It’s unfortunate that workers were forced into this position by TfNSW management and the NSW Government,” Alex said.

» Station staff sitting down on

“Workers didn’t want to take action, but were not left with any other options, with management and the Government refusing to commit to basic safety, hygiene and privatisation provisions as part of the EA negotiations.”

overseas-built rolling stock.

WOLLONGONG

12 RTBU TRANSPORT NOW OCTOBER 2021

at stations (during daylight hours);

» A ban on performing work

when contractors were present; duty; and

» Day-long bans on operating The calendar also recommended RTBU members make a concerted effort to communicate the union’s position by speaking to the public, making announcements wherever possible, and attaching union

material to railway assets and outgoing correspondence.

But it was the ban on overseas-built rolling stock that had perhaps the most impact, with rail workers refusing to operate those trains on two Tuesdays, December 7 and 14.

The action meant about 75 per cent of Sydney suburban and NSW intercity trains were out of action, with services run to a reduced frequency on most lines, with additional station stops and longer journey times.

“We know actions like this are an inconvenience to commuters, but the ball was in the court of management and the Government,” Alex said.

“They could have stopped the action by simply agreeing to workers’ basic asks around safety, hygiene and privatisation.

“Our action had an impact on services because so many of our transport assets are built overseas.

“That’s particularly significant given all the issues we’re seeing with overseas-built transport assets at the moment, such as the inner-west light rail and the New InterCity Fleet.”

HORNSBY

Train drivers and guards are particularly concerned about the latter, with the South Korean-built fleet yet to enter service following major safety concerns.

The New InterCity Fleet is designed to be run without guards, with their important role replaced by CCTV monitored by the driver, posing a huge safety risk to workers and commuters.

Earlier united action by RTBU members saw TfNSW back down on an insulting pay offer of just 0.3 per cent in the next EBA. It is now offering a 2.5 per cent pay increase, inclusive of superannuation.

But at the time of writing key sticking points in the EA negotiations included:

» Privatisation – workers want a commitment to services and jobs in the event of privatisation;

» safety claims – workers want

a guarantee that any changes to our services will leave them as safe or safer;

» hygiene – workers want a commitment to maintaining the existing level of hygiene using good, publicly owned jobs.

PARRAMATTA

CENTRAL

FMC KATOOMBA

CAMPBELLTOWN

RTBU TRANSPORT NOW OCTOBER 2021 13

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BRANCH

! NEWS

WA PTA

WAGES CAP CAMPAIGN BEARS FRUIT The WA PTA Branch’s long-running campaign to lift the Western Australian Government’s salary cap has borne fruit, with the WA Government announcing it will increase the budget for public sector wages by $1.2 billion.

Public sector workers will be offered a 2.5 per cent wage increase per annum over the next two years plus the choice of either a one-off $1,000 payment or an additional 0.25 per cent per annum.

WA PTA Branch Secretary Joshua Dekuyer says it’s less than what public sector unions have been campaigning for, but a good step forward.

The previous cap - which was set at a flat $1,000 a year - was introduced in 2017 to assist budget repair.

At the time, it was the most restrictive wages policy in the country and suppressed wage increases of public sector workers to below the rise in cost of living.

To fight the cap, the RTBU joined other WA public sector unions in 2021 to form a Public Sector Alliance comprising rail workers, public school teachers and support staff, health workers, prison officers, firefighters, engineers, and community service workers, among others.

“We have been successfully working to reform the WA Government’s wicked wage-fixing policy and have been calling on the Government to enter into good-faith negotiations and return to genuine enterprise bargaining with the public sector,” Joshua said.

As part of the campaign the RTBU and Public Sector Alliance unions

sent submissions to Premier Mark McGowan and Industrial Relations Minister Stephen Dawson.

cap was causing workers to leave the public service, creating huge strains on those left behind.

In the RTBU’s submission Joshua pointed out that while the Labor Government’s investment in projects such as Metronet should be applauded, the pay cap meant the Government was unable to attract, recruit, and retain public sector transport workers.

“The rest of us will flee, and those remaining will lose all motivation,” Terry wrote.

“As an example, in 2021 the Public Transport Authority lost approximately 30 Railcar Drivers and 40 Transit Officers,” Joshua said.

“Invest in your workforce, or your workforce will invest their skills with somebody who pays them the money they deserve.”

“It is important to understand that it takes the PTA six months to train a Railcar Driver. They can only have about 14 trainees at a time and can only run two training schools a year.

“We know the PTA is set to lose another dozen Railcar Drivers to BHP, Aurizon, and Rio Tinto. And more than 60 drivers are approaching retirement within the next several years.

“Our state infrastructure workers are also leaving the PTA and working for companies contracted to the PTA for the Metronet project because the pay is significantly higher.”

Public Sector Alliance submission included members’ stories on the negative impact of the wages policy.

“I have watched more than a dozen colleagues leave in the past eight weeks and head for greener pastures with BHP and Rio Tinto.

Transit Officer James says his family, including two young children, has suffered over the past four years due to the pay cap.

“This has had a corrosive effect on our lives, where even the essentials are being neglected,” James wrote.

“The change of lifestyle due to the almost non-existent wage increase mixed with rising costs causes depression, family and health problems, low morale in the workplace, and is a negative spiral that is becoming harder and harder to recover from.

“I only ask that the Government gives serious consideration to the sacrifice workers made over the past years.”

RTBU member Terry, a Railcar Driver, said in his submission that the salary

The almost non-existent wage increase mixed with rising costs causes depression, family and health problems, low morale in the workplace … is becoming harder and harder to recover from.

RTBU TRANSPORT NOW OCTOBER 2021 15

BRANCH

! NEWS

VIC

POSTERS TURNING HEADS AND WINNING HEARTS A picture tells a thousand words, but a poster can say even more.

RTBU Victoria Branch recently turned to Melbourne artist Nicky Minus to produce a series of posters as part of its long-running “NO WAY METRO!” campaign against the station cutbacks.

The campaign was launched after Metro Trains announced in April that all Passenger Service Leader positions would be abolished, along with a significant number of Station Master positions, leaving many workers devastated.

Campaign protests were held around the city, with members making their case and enlisting wider support, with “We are Essential Workers”, “No Job Cuts”, and “I am not OK” banners proudly on display.

In a win for RTBU members, Metro subsequently agreed at a Federal Court hearing to halt redeployments and redundancies until the dispute was resolved in the Fair Work Commission.

Posting on Instagram, Nicky Minus said the slogans and ideas for the posters were conceived by RTBU members.

“Members with the Rail Tram and Bus Union have been running a campaign since April to ensure workers are strong and united against ongoing attacks from management at Metro,” she wrote.

“Initially Metro tried to retrench 30 front-line station staff, but members banded together and organised actions at stations and outside the Fair Work Commission and succeeded in preventing this callous attack.

16 RTBU TRANSPORT NOW OCTOBER 2021

“Metro then sought to introduce new rosters without consulting members who were upset that there was no regard for their broader life commitments.”

Nicky said while Metro backed down, the situation continued to evolve and members were continuing to organise in preparation for any further attacks.

“I turned their ideas into these images which will be printed into posters and put up around stations to help draw more attention to the ongoing campaign and to celebrate the work of railway workers who have continued to keep our trains running throughout the entirety of the pandemic.”

Victorian Branch Secretary Luba Grigorovitch said the Branch commissioned the posters to reinforce the successes of the “NO WAY METRO!” campaign.

The RTBU provided Nicky with background on the campaign and suggesting key messages she could include.

“These messages came from rank-andfile RTBU members,” Luba said.

“They included that Metro had been greedy, putting profits before passenger experience and customer service, and that it would stop at nothing to look after shareholders rather than hard-working staff.

“And our members had been considered essential during the pandemic, but when Metro wanted them sacked they suddenly tried to argue they were not essential.”

Luba said the posters were part of a campaign that had produced formidable results for union members in pursuit of job security.

“In the face of brazen attacks from management that have tried every trick in the book, members have stood firm and virtually stopped Metro’s savage efforts in their tracks.”

BRANCH

! NEWS

QLD

SOUNDING THE ALARM ON DEADLY DUST The RTBU has sounded the alarm for Queensland rail infrastructure workers who are being routinely exposed to life-threatening dust hazards.

Queensland State President and Central District Organiser Bruce Mackie says the union’s state office was informed recently that Aurizon has for some time been allowing workers to be exposed to dangerous levels of silica and coal dust while working on track.

Caused by coal dust, it can severely damage your lungs and, by extension, your heart.

When breathed in, silica dust enters the lungs, where it gets stuck and causes microscopic scaring to sensitive lung tissues.

Now, due to the massive tonnages of coal being moved on the state’s rail network, it is a potential hazard to rail workers.

The condition, silicosis, has been dubbed the new asbestosis.

And like asbestosis, there is no effective medical treatment, with silicosis leading to ever-decreasing breathing ability, cancer and an early death.

There have been cases where people exposed to dangerous levels of silica dust have become terminally ill after only two years, but it can also kill decades later.

“Silica dust comes from quartz-containing materials,” Bruce said. “Think kitchen benchtops and, more importantly to RTBU members, rail ballast.

“When these stones are disturbed or broken they release dust that contains very fine and microscopic pieces of quartz.

“That is silica dust and it can be deadly.”

The RTBU is also concerned about a similar dust-borne danger, coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, or Black Lung.

Once a common hazard among miners, Black Lung was thought to have been eradicated decades ago but began reappearing in Australia in 2015.

“Over a long period coal dust can build up in your lungs, causing damage to the sensitive branches in your lungs that provide oxygen to your blood supply,” Bruce said.

“It works in a similar way to silica dust, slowly killing its victims. There is no cure for Black Lung, only treatments to ease, but not stop, the negative health effects.”

You have a right under the WHS Act to refuse to work in conditions where the danger of harmful dust is present

The RTBU is talking to Queensland Rail and Aurizon on how to deal with the dust issue and will update members as the matter progresses.

Meantime, workers can refuse to work in a site that risks exposure.

“You have a right under the WHS Act to refuse to work in conditions where the danger of harmful dust is present (or will be present) and there are not adequate controls in place to protect you from dust exposure,” Bruce said.

Bruce said that before members exercised these rights, they should contact their workgroup health and safety representative and RTBU Workplace Delegate and tell them what is going on.

But if members can’t contact their WHS Repesentative or Workplace Delegate, they can call Bruce on, 0420 941 663, or RTBU WHS Officer Lucas Kennedy on 0430 146 956.

Members and ex-members who have ever been exposed to ballast dust should also register with the Maurice Blackburn Lawyers Dust Exposure Registry online at https://my.mauriceblackburn.com.au/exposure-register/ home This will protect your legal interests to sue Aurizon or Queensland Rail should the worst happen and you fall ill now or in future due to workplace silica or coal dust exposure.

RTBU TRANSPORT NOW OCTOBER 2021 17

BRANCH

! NEWS

SA/NT

PRIVATISATION TO BE KEY ISSUE IN SA ELECTION South Australians could be set to punish the Marshall Government over its rush to privatise public transport, with Labor vowing to roll the state’s rail and tram systems back into public hands after the March election.

SA/NT Secretary Darren Phillips says Premier Steven Marshall lied to voters in 2019, repeatedly ruling out privatisation ahead of that state election, then rushing to privatise everything he could get his hands on.

The RTBU has since fought privatisation all the way, including in a rally on the steps of State Parliament in 2019.

“Everything we’ve done as a union has found the public couldn’t see any sense in privatisation, and preferred the public transport system to be in public hands,” Darren said.

“And since privatisation began we’ve seen no improvements, just cuts.

“In his first 18 months in Government, Steven Marshall slashed $46 million from public transport, cut bus services, closed the Passenger Transport Information Centre in the CBD and removed security guards from train lines.

“Since KDA took over the trains they have reduced the number of Passenger

Service Assistants from 86 to 63, 23 fewer positions than promised by the Government.

“They’ve also raised fares, imposed a $5 charge to buy a MetroCard and scrapped two-section Metro tickets – costing regular users an extra $150 a year.”

Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas has vowed an SA Labor Government will bring the state’s trains, trams and their workforces back into public ownership and control.

To do so he will also establish an Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Return of Public Transport Services to investigate how to achieve the reversal, and review clauses in the contract to end the deal, including failure to meet specified performance standards, breaches of the contract, or review clauses.

The commission will also examine the feasibility of returning metropolitan

bus services, privatised by the Liberals in 2000, back into government control.

Darren believes Labor is fair dinkum, and that the South Australian public will back them.

“A survey by SA Unions found the vast majority of voters did not support privatisation, but people felt they couldn’t do anything about it until an election, and that no other action would succeed,” Darren said.

“They could see privatisation of our trams and trains was always purely ideological.

“Normally governments paint a picture and cut budgets and make areas look bad to justify privatisation, but in this case they didn’t.

“They just claimed the system needed to be modernised and that it was not effective or efficient or world’s best, when actually it is right up there.

“In fact it’s on-time running and customer satisfaction were right up there with the best in the world.”

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BRANCH

! NEWS

WA

SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT UNION POWER Western Australia is our biggest state by area, but the dedicated WA Branch team is out to cover every inch of it.

As noted in the Spring edition of Transport NOW, this recently involved a trek around WA’s remote and rural areas, starting in the Pilbara and then continuing through to the southwest.

The delegation was led in the north by WA Branch Secretary Craig McKinley, and included Industrial Organiser Kristy Martin and WA Branch President George Kelly.

In just a short period they managed to talk to 21 different rail and rail infrastructure companies and gave out 120 membership packs.

“We were in Port Hedland in early November, and spoke to members at BHP, Cat5 Rail, Program, John Holland, EDI Downer, and Fluor,” Craig said.

“We also have an EBA coming up with John Holland so we were keen to meet people there and make some contacts.

“All were really good meetings involving quite a few early morning prestarts. It was a week long, with up at 5am and going well into the evening.”

Craig said the trip was a great success and new members are now beginning to filter through.

The delegation also visited Port Hedland High School, which hosts a Cat5 Rail infrastructure training program for local kids.

“We collected information on their curriculum,” Craig said. “We won’t copy it, but will look at the framework, have a meeting with the Education Minister and try to roll out a similar curriculum in the southwest. That could be in high schools or as a TAFE course.”

Kristy Martin says meeting with Cat5 Rail to discuss their high school training program was a highlight.

“This is something I am personally interested in as there is a huge potential for our children to get a step up into the rail and rail infrastructure system,” Kristy said.

Kristy and George stayed on the road after the Pilbara, heading to the

southwest to visit more RTBU members and depots.

Day one saw them in Wagin and then Albany, and they then travelled to Esperance to meet Pacific National and Aurizon crews.

Kalgoorlie, which she says is a hot spot for all RTBU members across all companies, was next stop on the list, then it was on to Merriden and Northam.

“I had the pleasure of meeting some lovely members who between them had a world of rail knowledge,” she said. “I am looking forward to working with you all!

“Throughout my travels I continued to work with our members who came to me with issues, from saving a member’s job when the fight seemed too big, to securing reimbursements for members after pay issues.

“We are here for everyone and we will continue to put your needs first.”

RTBU TRANSPORT NOW OCTOBER 2021 19

WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING

THE GAME, BY SEAN KELLY

When Scott Morrison suddenly became the unelected Prime Minister of Australia in August 2018, many Australians didn’t even know who he was. Three and half years later, the man still remains something of a mystery.

Sean Kelly’s new book The Game: A Portrait of Scott Morrison tries to look behind the carefully constructed public image to find out who he really is. But trying to find the ‘real’ person beneath the carefully constructed ‘daggy dad’ persona turned out to be more challenging than Kelly expected.

“The elements of his ‘character’ that we know are only superficial.

We know he likes a curry; we know he likes rugby league. ‘Pragmatic’ comes closer to telling us something, but not very much closer, because the word itself is empty, a description in the negative than the positive: it tells us he will not die in a ditch, not what he might die in a ditch for.”

The book shows that the basic foundations of our understanding of ‘ScoMo’ fall away under scrutiny. For example, his much-vaunted lifelong obsession with the Cronulla Sharks and rugby league is a relatively recent thing. In fact, in 2005 he claimed to be supporter of the Western Bulldogs in the AFL! As a kid he played the establishment code, rugby union, not league.

I suppose we shouldn’t be that surprised to find out that what Scott Morrison says about his own life is subject to re-interpretation. After all,

20 RTBU TRANSPORT NOW OCTOBER 2021

he has earned a reputation for saying one thing one day, and the opposite thing the next.

Take Mr Morrison’s famous statement during the 2019 Federal election that Labor’s plan to increase the uptake of electric vehicles would “end the weekend”, because an electric vehicle: “won’t tow your trailer. It’s not going to tow your boat. It’s not going to get you out to your favourite camping spot with your family.”

But two years later, when Mr Morrison himself announced a new Federal Government of 30 per of new car sales to be electric vehicles by 2030, he rejected the notion that he had previously ridiculed electric vehicles as a “Labor lie”.

Sean Kelly wonders if Mr Morrison is a man stuck in time, where ”each moment stands alone”: “For him, an interaction demands only what it demands, he will do what needs to be done at that precise point in time. He never feels, in himself, insincere or untruthful, because he always means what he says; it is just that he only means it in the moment he is saying it. Past and future disappear.”

I guess Scott Morrison is not the first politician to tell fibs, but the problem is not just that he lies. It’s not just that he ‘doesn’t hold a hose’, or that he thinks that ‘it’s not a race’. And it’s not just that he sneaks away for holidays without telling anyone.

The problem is that he can’t cope with the chaos of the reality outside his secure little Canberra bubble, and simply doesn’t know how to deal with it. He wants the world to be like the movie Ground Hog Day, where every

days resets back to the same point, and nothing ever changes.

Whether it’s dealing with climate change, protecting the future of workers in the resources sector, responding to demand for greater gender equality, or securing a supply of vaccines or Rapid Antigen Tests to protect Australians from a global pandemic, Scott Morrison’s shtick is always to convince us that there’s nothing to see here.

How good is Australia! How good is apathy and ignorance!

When eventually he concedes that something has to give, Mr Morrison assures us that the inconvenience is only temporary. He tells us not to look in the rear-view mirror, and that we need to move forward. By that he means we should ignore everything we have just seen, experienced and learned, and pretend that nothing actually happened.

Scott Morrison’s ‘forward to the past’ style of leadership is exactly what Australia does not need right now. The world is changing rapidly around us, and we need leadership that understands what’s going on and is capable of responding.

The Morrison Government, like Morrison himself, is hopelessly stuck in the moment – addicted to the daily media cycle, where image is more important than substance. They are disconnected from reality, and bereft of any vision for the future. It’s time to give them the boot.

You can find Sean Kelly’s book The Game: A Portrait of Scott Morrison at all good book stores, or online at Booktopia.

Stewart Prins