Rail - Industrial action flagged

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Christmas train travel disruptions loom in south-east Queensland, with industrial action flagged

Strike action could disrupt train travel in south-east Queensland heading into Christmas, with the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) balloting its members to approve industrial action.

The RTBU anticipates a protracted dispute with Queensland Rail (QR) over job security issues.

RTBU state secretary Owen Doogan said services around Brisbane could be affected.

"We would hope that Queensland Rail would see sense and come to a first settlement with us before any industrial actions occurred," he said.

"QR need to get serious about dealing with insecure employment, where contracting out, labour hire and casual employment is becoming a free-for-all."

He said most QR workers had not had a pay rise since early to mid-2013 and industrial action next month was in part to prevent this continuing into 2016.

"QR need to agree to our claim for backdating of any wage increase agreed back to nominal expiry date of the current agreements," he said.

"Queenslanders want job security where they can plan for their kids' education and welfare as well as securing mortgages.

"It just isn't available with the day-to-day or week-to-week employment practices coveted by the current QR management."

The ABC has contacted Queensland Rail for comment.

[petey3801]

Nb: This isn't traincrew industrial action, the agreements currently being negotiated are for other parts of the organisation.

[ozbob]

^ thanks for the clarification.

I assume it is all non-train crew that have not had new agreements?  Also I guess a lot of maintenance etc. is being contracted/out sourced?

[petey3801]

Not too sure on the specifics, but I believe it is most of the non-traincrew agreements that are being worked on at the moment (Traincrew recieved a pay rise this year, whereas other areas haven't for a year or two now, so they went first with the negotiations after we were put back in to the Federal award).

[ozbob]

Twitter

ABC Radio Brisbane  ‏@612brisbane 2h

Owen Doogan from the @RTBUnion tells @ejgriffiths he wants his members to be reimbursed for the years they didn't receive a pay rise #qldpol

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> The Rail Tram and Bus Union has been given approval by Fair Work Aust to ballot controllers over strike action