News

Reform Rhetoric Repugnant

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Published on Tuesday, 31 January, 2012

During the 2011 State Election Nick Greiner’s name wasn’t on the ballot paper but the announcement of job cuts in RailCorp show that he’s now running transport policy in NSW.

Those who lived through his chaotic premiership from 1988 onwards will recognise some familiar rhetoric- “inefficient railways, reform programme, jobs going, big savings” are all there in Minister Gladys Berejiklian’s press release and are “Nick speak” for Slash and Burn.

The announcement made reference to railway operations in Britain which were privatised in 1994 and led to disasters such as Ladbroke Grove. The passenger service in the UK has declined disastrously and is now fragmented and one of the most expensive in the world.

It is unacceptable that 15,000 RailCorp staff should hear about this “reform” through the media, “reform” that according to reports would see 95 stations risk losing staff, predominately in the Hunter, Illawarra, Central Coast and Blue Mountains.

The ASU along with the Combined Rail Unions are demanding that proper consultation take place and proposals that impact on the job security of the 15,000 RailCorp staff be discussed with unions and not announced through media sound bites.

TfNSW

Negotiations between the ASU and other affected unions continue with TfNSW over the new Award which will cover transferring staff. The Combined Union position has been from the outset that all conditions of employment be protected. In response TfNSW has stated that salary maintenance and other conditions such as nine day fortnight and Picnic Day will not be included in the new Award.

Union members have fought and gained these conditions of employment over many years. These should be retained for staff transferring to TfNSW, many of whom were part of that fight. Despite the TfNSW position the ASU will continue to fight to safeguard these conditions for transferring staff.

Next week negotiations head to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission for conciliation meetings in front of Justice Walton. Here the “independent umpire” will seek a resolution to all outstanding matters. Following this a series of union road shows have been planned in conjunction with Unions NSW to update and advise affected employees.

RailCorp

Time capture to pay

In mid-2011 the ASU began consultation around “time capture to pay”. This is a system where employees’ hours are recorded electronically by logging in to a PC/laptop remotely, card swipe and finger scan or mobile phone.

There are a series of consultative meetings over the next few months to discuss how the system affects staff on stations, head office staff and those out in the field. Staff have understandable concerns around privacy and how the system will work. The ASU will continue to raise these with RailCorp during the consultative process.

Members will be kept up to date on the progress of consultation. If you have any questions or concerns about “time capture to pay” please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PSD Field and Head Office reform

The ASU is currently in consultation with RailCorp over the reform and restructure of Presentation Services Division. One meeting has been held with management where the Combined Rail Unions were presented with a draft structure for PSD Field and Head Office operations.

RailCorp have indicated that in outlying regions such as Kiama, Bomaderry, Moss Vale, Mount Victoria, Lithgow, Broadmeadow and Newcastle there is a preference for Station Managers to oversee the operations of presentation staff.

The ASU is waiting for Position Descriptions from RailCorp in relation to the reform and a meeting is scheduled to be held Thursday 9th February to discuss all of these issues.

Opal Card (Integrated Electronic Ticketing)

The Combined Rail Unions attended a meeting with RailCorp to discuss Integrated Electronic Ticketing on Thursday 2nd February. The Opal Card as it is being called is based on the Oyster Card which operates in London. The card is designed to be used on all public transport and passengers would “tap on/tap off” with the cost of the journey being debited from their card account. Passengers would be required to obtain an opal card before travelling on any public transport.

The ASU believes that RailCorp is yet to provide satisfactory responses about how the system would operate. RailCorp have not thought deeply enough about how this will affect passengers and ASU members who then have to deal with irate travellers.

The ASU will keep members up to date as consultation continues.

STA

Members who are covered by STA Senior and Salaried Officers Award voted overwhelmingly to accept a three year rollover deal with a 2.5% pay increase per annum. Importantly the Award provides for the option to continue negotiations around “employee-related cost savings”, which would see wage increases above the2.5%.

With the Award approved by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission on 25th January it is expected that employees will see the increase in salary in the next pay round. Back pay from 1st January will be paid by approximately 8th February.

STA offer of redundancy to staff as part of the current STA restructure has now been signed off by NSW Treasury. Staff who have expressed an interest in accepting voluntary redundancy will shortly be receiving letters of offer. The Combined Unions will send further information about the Award and restructure shortly.