Home RIC EBA Campaign RIC's Uncertain Future Delays EBA Negotiations
RIC's Uncertain Future Delays EBA Negotiations Print
Tuesday, 12 May 2009 12:37

The Rail Infrastructure Corporation (RIC) EBA negotiations have commenced. These negotiations had been delayed because of the uncertainty of RIC’s future.


In the mini-budget of November 2008 the Government announced that RIC would merge with RailCorp effective 30 June 2009. How this will happen is still unclear. There are essentially three options, either RIC will fully merge into RailCorp, or it will remain a completely separate entity or it will largely remain a separate entity but will report to the Minister through the RailCorp CEO. Each of these options have different implications in relation to the kind of industrial instrument that is in the best interests of the members. On 6 March the Combined Rail Unions met to draft a log of claims, which has been issued to the members. The log of claims is:
  • 6% annual pay increase
  • No forced redundancies
  • Merger issues including preservation of existing entitlements for EBA and contract staff
  • Re-statement of commitment to SPPP
  • More flexible working hours – 9 day fortnight; workload issues
  • Increase to living away from home allowance to $160 daily rate

    In the initial meeting for EBA negotiations RIC management were quite positive about the ability to secure an agreement close to the log of claims.