Rail workers have pledged to immediately cease major industrial action that threatens to severely disrupt train services on New Year’s Eve if the state Labor government drops its legal case against them and offers free fares to commuters.

In a late-night peace offering to the government on Sunday, the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) said it would withdraw all industrial action apart from minor measures such as staff wearing union T-shirts while on the job.

archive.org.

    • ikt
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      21 days ago

      They want an 8% pay rise every year for 4 years? That’s absurd

        • ikt
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          21 days ago

          Also every year pay has been below CPI is a pay cut, which needs to be made up for.

          Your pay rate is based on what the market will pay not some sort of CPI index that needs to be made up for every few years in negotiations with a union that go bad and hurt the public

          That’s the negotiating position, what they accept will be less.

          I’ve seen their demands here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-20/nsw-train-strike-sydney-union-demands-pay-rise-government/104622866

          A 32 per cent pay rise over four years or an 8 per cent annual increase has been called for.

          When it comes to super, the union wants an additional 1 per cent employer superannuation contribution, and for super to be payable on all hours worked and while on parental leave or workers compensation.

          Training allowances have been requested, as well as meal allowances for call outs.

          Where wages and allowances — including penalty rates — are not paid correctly or on time, the RTBU wants a penalty to be paid to the employee by the employer.

          A 35-hour work week without a reduction in weekly remuneration is also on the cards.

          Flexible work is another core focus. The union said provisions must not be unreasonably refused.

          Where an application is refused, they said there must be a written explanation provided and an appeal process managed and administered by the employing agency. This includes decisions on hybrid working and mandated days in office.

          Workers should have all overtime paid as double time, the claim said. Overtime should be paid on the day too. The final major demand is centred on leave.

          The RTBU wants annual leave increased to five weeks for non-shift workers and six weeks for shift workers.

          They said long service leave needs to be available after seven years, and five years for pro rata on retirement.

          Plus, employees undergoing fertility treatment need to be entitled to one day of paid leave for each occasion of appointments associated with fertility treatment.


          Quite frankly, ridiculous!

          • NaevaTheRat [she/her]@vegantheoryclub.org
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            21 days ago

            Your pay rate is based on what the market will pay not some sort of CPI index that needs to be made up for every few years in negotiations with a union that go bad and hurt the public

            It’s almost like they’re trying to demonstrate their value by showing how severe the consequences of them not working are.

            • ikt
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              21 days ago

              they’re trying to demonstrate their value

              Right

              by showing how severe the consequences

              by pissing off the public (their main customer base) by making unreasonable demands?

              Just an hour after a Fair Work hearing started on Tuesday, unions dropped some of their major actions

              Wow nice work 👍

              https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/ceasefire-in-rail-pay-dispute-saves-sydney-s-new-year-s-eve-20241224-p5l0hl.html

              The dumbest union strategy I’ve ever seen.

              The govt needs to stay firm and put this union back in its place.

              The union went all-in on a pair of 3’s and have lost credibility with its members for its promises, the government for the way it went about its business and the public for such outrageous wage demands.

              Sounds like it’s going really well for you :)