2 minute read
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.
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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
