RTBU - PacNat Member's Union Collective Agreement 2006 Update Newsfalsh! 69

Intermodal Drivers Business Division Update

Representatives of the RTBU, including rank and file delegates, have continued to meet with representatives of Pacific National in continuing discussions for the Intermodal Train Crew Union Collective Agreement. The meetings have been conducted in a positive atmosphere, with both parties indicating the willingness to reach a fair conclusion by the end of September. The majority of the Agreement has been agreed 'in principle' with only a small number of issues remaining to be negotiated. A further meeting is scheduled to take place tomorrow (Friday 15th September) with the intent to finalise the remaining issues.

Intermodal Terminals Business Division Update

Representatives of the RTBU, including rank and file delegates, have continued to meet with representatives of Pacific National in continuing discussions for the Intermodal Terminals Union Collective Agreement. The RTBU is pleased to report that a substantial amount of progress has been made in the negotiations to date. The main remaining issue is in regards to the classification structure for Terminal Operators. The parties have agreed in general to the content of the structure but there remains work to be done on the actual design of the structure in order for it to reflect a fair and reasonable outcome. Further meetings are scheduled for Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th September. The RTBU is optimistic that the parties will be in a position to take an 'In Principle' agreed document to the delegate conference at the end of September.

Northern and Southern Coal Business Division Updates

RTBU Representatives from Northern Coal and Southern Coal depots recently met with Pacific National management to negotiate their respective Union Collective Agreements. The negotiations were held in good faith with both parties having the same aim of attempting to achieve outcomes. An 'In Principle' Agreement has been reached with both Business Divisions and the documents will now be reviewed by both parties' lawyers, in readiness for the outcome of other negotiations and the September 30 deadline.

The RTBU met with Northern Coal management from Monday 21st & Tuesday 22nd August 2006, and with Southern Coal (Inner Harbour, Lithgow) management in Penrith on Friday 8thSeptember 2006. Some good outcomes were achieved on the following clauses.

Northern Coal:

Career Paths & Classification, Hours Of Work, Leave, Home Base and Sign On / Sign Off provision, Temporary Transfer, Roster Changes, Shift Limits, Interval between shifts, Barracks Workings / Resting Away, Lift Up / Lay Back, Mentor Driver, Medical Assessments.

Special thanks to the following delegates for their professionalism in debating and negotiating a fair outcome for their members.

Southern Coal:

Career Paths & Classification, Hours of Work, Leave. Home Base and Sign On / Sign Off provision, Shift Limits, Interval between shifts, Barracks Workings / Resting Away, Lift Up / Lay Back, Mentor Driver, Medical Assessments.

Special thanks to the following delegates for their professionalism in debating and negotiating a fair outcome for their members.

Progress Being Made

As members have been able to see, from the content of this and previous recent Newsflashes, substantial progress has continued to be made in all of the negotiations to date. Whilst it is fair to say there is still some work to be done in order to finalise all of the Agreements, to the extent possible, prior to the end of September, the RTBU remains confident that goal will be achieved. It is worthy of noting that nothing will be agreed in totality, in terms of putting any of the Agreements to members for the vote, at least until the National Delegates have reconvened at the end of September.

All of the rank and file delegates involved in the negotiations deserve acknowledgement of their preparedness to give up their time to represent those in their respective Business Divisions to ensure fair and reasonable outcomes for members. The knowledge of the practicalities of what actually happens on the ground and the vast amount of experience they bring to the negotiations cannot be undervalued.

Further Information

Members will continue to be kept informed of any significant developments through future editions of your Newsflashes. For further information on issues regarding the Union Collective Agreement negotiations please contact your local RTBU delegate, your respective RTBU State Branch or the National Office.

Newsflash!@Home

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