Article: Rail guards work despite 'poisonous' relations

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Rail guards work despite 'poisonous' relations

THE RailCorp transit officers who patrol Sydney's trains have a ''poisonous'' relationship with their management and many stick in the job only because of the relatively high pay.

An external review of the officers finds morale is ''either low or at best ambivalent'', amid complaints of malicious management, unfit workmates and inadequate security equipment.

The review was commissioned by RailCorp in response to union concerns about safety. But its final report, obtained by the Herald, goes further than its terms of reference to expose a troubled work culture and recommends RailCorp turn over responsibility for managing officers to a senior police figure.
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''The most disturbing issue identified by the review was the level of antagonism between transit officers and security division [of RailCorp] management which can best be summarised as an 'us versus them' poisonous situation,'' says the review, by Noetic Solutions.

One of the main grievances officers have with RailCorp is the belief they are inadequately equipped to cope with escalating crime and violence on Sydney's train system.

But the review, assisted by a former deputy commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, says the level of crime and violence has fallen in the past five years. RailCorp says it has tried to get more powerful security equipment for officers, such as capsicum spray or longer batons, but the review recommends against the extra measures.

Transit officers were introduced in 2002 to replace Chubb security guards. But the review finds they have something of an identity crisis. Transit officers see their main role as law enforcement, but RailCorp stresses their duties as ticket inspectors.

The review praises management attempts to improve workplace culture in the past five years. But it identifies problems stemming from the period 2002 to 2005, when the number of transit officers increased rapidly from 100 to about 600.

''As a consequence a number of unsuitable transit officers were recruited which has resulted in a number of problems relating to attitude, discipline and issues connected to the use of force,'' it says. ''Transit officers ... feel that a core group of officers remain who are not suited to the role and whose continued presence is only motivated by remuneration.''

The starting salary for a transit officer is almost $78,000 - more than $20,000 than the starting salary of a NSW police officer.

Another complaint among officers was RailCorp's repeated claim there were more than 600 officers. As recently as June, RailCorp told the Herald it had 600 accredited transit officers, but the review makes clear about 150 are deskbound.

Officers also believe RailCorp's internal investigation process is ''malicious'' and used to expel outspoken staff. The review interviewed other officers who ''expressed grave concerns over the fitness levels of some of their colleagues'' and quoted concerns promotions and pay rises were too easily won.

A spokesman for RailCorp said it would ''work with all parties as we consider the report and potential improvements''.

The NSW branch secretary of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, Alex Claassens, said the union would not agree to any changes that diminished the quality of security across the network, while the Transport Minister, Gladys Berejiklian, said the government would ''increase the frontline presence on the rail network''

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/rail-guards-work-despite-poisonous-relations-20110819-1j2f4.html