ARGE EBA Campaign Newsletter No 3

Hard slog continues for just wages and conditions.

The RTBU's campaign in Australian Railroad Group is to ensure that the workers are not the lowest paid rail workers in Australia. Our strategy is to win a new Minimum Rates Award for ARGE and then to negotiate an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement based on that Award.

After several conferences and hearings, the Australian Industrial Relations Commission made a decision about the Award on May 2, 2002. This decision required the RTBU and ARGE to negotiate further.

As part of those required negotiations, National Industrial Officer Andrew Thomas and Acting Branch Secretary Bob Christison discussed with ARGE on August 23, 2002.

Mileage and Tonnage / Kilowatt payments

The RTBU had proposed the mileage and tonnage/kilowatt payments that applied in Australian National. Management had proposed the tonnage payment from Victoria, but no mileage payment. Management did not come to the negotiation with an alternative Management will discuss details further with Brian Curran. To date, these talks have not occurred.

Hours of Work

The RTBU called for:

• A guaranteed working week
• Payment of overtime after 8 hours
• Ordinary hours for dayworkers Mon - Fri
• Ordinary hours for shiftworkers Mon - Sat
• Extra day off per month
• Shift limit of 8 hours for dayworkers, 8.5 hours for shiftworkers, extendable by agreement
• Usual overtime rates

After the meeting, ARGE proposed:

• Working week Sun - Sat inclusive
• Up to 10 hour shifts at boss' discretion
• Questioned the guarantee.

The RTBU will reply.

Classification Structure

• Agreed that the locomotive driver's qualifications are set at AQF Level 4 in the competency framework.
• Minimum rate for loco driver not agreed.
• Driver Only Shunting - RTBU wants it in the rate, ARGE not clear.
• Minimum rate for a Driver Coordinator and for a Maintainer to be determined.

Public Holidays

As in federal test case. Easter Saturday public holiday won, after resistance by ARGE.

Remote Control Shunting

ARGE says this is part of DOO, but RTBU wanted it deleted because there is no remote control in ARGE. This will most likely be resolved in the Commission.

Limited Train Movement

The draft Award clause allowing non-drivers to do limited train movements is vague and the RTBU and ARGE do not agree on how it would work. The RTBU wants it deleted, and this will most likely be resolved in the Commission.

The RTBU will ask the Commission next week for an early hearing to resolve the issues of the Minimum Rates Award. This will enable us to start the EBA negotiations.

UNITED WE BARGAIN - DIVIDED WE BEG