Union Backs Reintroduction Of Cessnock Passenger Trains

BY LIAM COLLINS

The Rail Tram and Bus Union is calling on the Minns Government to reinstate passenger train lines between Maitland and Cessnock.

Current and expected population growth in both regions have spurred the union to advocate for the lines to be reopened, hoping to put forward a motion at the NSW Labor Party State Conference this July.

Currently, residents travelling between Newcastle and Cessnock don't have any direct public transport options, with the Train to Cessnock Campaign having voiced concerns since 2023.

The Maitland-Cessnock passenger line has been closed since the 1970s after patronage declined.

The union's Loco Division secretary Farren Campbell said reinstating passenger trains is a common sense position.

"Good, cheap, reliable, efficient public transport is so important for communities everywhere, and that's particularly the case in the Hunter," he said.

"We've seen regional communities really struggle with public transport - we think this is a no-brainer.

"It's good for working families and good for the Hunter."

Mr Campbell further stated the opportunity the union had to advocate for the line reopening would be beneficial.

"We're proud to be spearheading this at the upcoming Labor conference," he said. 

"It's something that we absolutely support, and we commend anyone who's willing to get behind it."

The NSW Labor Party State Conference will be held at the Sydney Town Hall on the 4th and 5th of July.

BUS STRIKE – Services to Halt From 4am Friday

 The Rail Tram and Bus Union says they’ll be on strike from tomorrow, with services including regular routes, school services and night owl Saturday services suspended from 4am on Friday to 4am on Saturday.

The 24-hour strike is an escalation following a refusal of Operator Keolis Downer’s proposed enterprise agreement when it was put to a ballot.

Rail, Train and Bus Union Divisional President Peter Grech says the proposed agreement is a three-year contract which would continue past 2027, when it’s expected Keolis Downer’s agreement with the State Government will run out.

“So we don’t want to be locked into an agreement where where there’s no Keolis Downer anymore. So we’re just ensuring that the money which is put in our pockets is negotiated through the Keolis Downer,” he said.

“We just apologise for the inconvenience to the commuters. We didn’t want to get to this. We’ve been trying not to inconvenience commuters and we’re hoping for some sort of resolution,” he said.

It’s understood a last minute meeting has been held today in an attempt to reach an agreement to stop the action.

Credit / Wikimedia Commons

Keolis Downer Puts New Pay Offer To Newcastle Bus Drivers

 BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle bus operator Keolis Downer has put a revised offer to drivers in the hope of bringing industrial action to an end.

The company has made an Enterprise Agreement pay offer of 15.5% over four years with an extra 8% over the same period for Year 1 trainees.

This Trainee offer is designed to close the current wage gap and boost recruitment and retention of staff in the long term.

The revised offer retains existing conditions and entitlements.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union is yet to respond to the latest offer.

 

Train Chaos Hits The Hunter

 BY IAN CROUCH

No trains will be running in Sydney or across NSW on Monday after talks between Transport for NSW and the Rail Tram and Bus Union broke down on Sunday night.

It means no suburban, inter-urban or country trains will run.

While the union maintains there will only be limited disruptions, the government says the union's ongoing industrial campaign makes it impossible to safely operate services.

Transport for NSW says commuters should make alternative arrangements

Today's disruption follows more than 30 meetings between the union and Transport for NSW over the past six months to resolve a range of claims.

The parties are due back in the Fair Work Commission at 9 o'clock on Monday morning.

Transport for NSW says no trains will run on Monday Picture: Newcastle Weekly

 

RTBU Fears Train Guards Will Go in New Fleet

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The Rail Tram and Bus Union is concerned hundreds of jobs will be cut during the rollout of a new intercity rail fleet coming to the Hunter in 2019.

The Union is referring to a NSW Government plan to eliminate train guards at stations in Newcastle, the South Coast and Blue Mountains.

"We're looking at losing about 300 jobs if [Transport Minister Constance] gets his way in taking the guards off the train," Union Secretary Alex Claassens said. 

"The guards play a very important role in making sure our trains are safe and they run on time...

"We know from time to time," he continued, "kids will block the doors...you can imagine what's going to happen if the driver's got to walk back everytime to fix those things for his or her self." 

The intercity trains, sourced from South Korea, will begin testing and commissioning in early 2019, with passengers expected to be able to jump aboard the Central Coast and Newcastle Line from late 2019.

It looks as though train guard jobs for diesel trains in outlying regions will remain.

Artist's Impression of the New Intercity Fleet. 

BREAKING! Fair Work Overrules RTBU Strike

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

In good news for Hunter commuters, a statewide planned stoppage to rail services on Monday will not go ahead.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union has been brought to its knees by a decision of the Fair Work Commission to ban Monday's strike- industrial action has been suspended for six weeks' time.

The Commission has justified the decision by considering the detrimental effects of a complete stoppage on the NSW economy, as government lawyers argued it could cost the state between $50 to $90 million as people struggle to get to work, school or anywhere else.

Utter chaos was experienced in the Sydney CBD today as commuters packed onto intercity trains running at a weekend frequency.

Fair Work believed if a ban on overtime hours could create such havoc, a total stoppage could endanger the population and grind productivity to a halt.

After joining talks between the RTBU and Transport Minister Andrew Constance today, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has told reporters at Martin Place she's confident that, with the Commission's decision, the government will now be able to put the needs of the community first.

"I want to send the strongest message to the Rail Union and all NSW unions that we have a strong wages policy in place and we will continue to adhere to that policy moving forward," Ms Berejiklian said.

2NURFM News spoke to RTBU Secretary Alex Claassens yesterday, who slammed Transport Minister Andrew Constance's role in negotiations.

"In my experience (and I've worked under a lot of transport ministers) most of them have been conciliatory and understood the pressure we're all under...most of them have always agreed to sit down and talk about it. This guy's not prepared to."

Amidst the Union and media scrutiny, Premier Berejiklian today defended Andrew Constance's handling of the fiasco, expressing her gratitude to him.

Packed like sardines: a Sydney train during today's overtime ban. 

Railway Workers Choo-Choo Choose to Strike

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Hunter commuters travelling within Newcastle or Sydney will have to think of another way to get to work, school and everywhere else, with rail workers steaming ahead with a 24 hour strike later this month.

Members of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union will walk off the job for 24 hours on Monday, January 29th over a pay dispute, bringing trains across the state to a halt.

They're hoping to secure a 6% pay increase from the state government.

The Union had originally planned to stop working overtime hours on January 25th, however decided that wouldn't send a strong enough message.

Meetings are planned for the next 48 hours, where union and government officials will try to find a solution to the stalemate.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance has called on the rail union to cancel the strike, saying it will force the cancellation of all rail services and leave commuters stranded.