Article: Rail Tram and Bus Union members to meet ...

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Rail Tram and Bus Union members to meet to consider response to Queensland Rail's dismissal of train driver involved in fight with passenger at South Bank station

Rail Tram and Bus Union members to meet to consider response to Queensland Rail's dismissal of train driver involved in fight with passenger at South Bank station

    by: Robyn Ironside
    From: The Courier-Mail
    March 17, 2012 12:00AM

THE State Government could have a train strike on its hands in the final week of the election, with drivers furious about the sacking of a colleague involved in a fight with a passenger at South Bank station.

Rail Tram and Bus Union members will meet on Monday to consider their response to Queensland Rail's dismissal of the train driver, with industrial action firmly on the agenda.

RTBU secretary Owen Doogan said he had never seen members so angry about an issue.

"There's enormous anger and understandably so," Mr Doogan said.

"They're concerned about their own safety and the fact that if they're assaulted, their employer is likely to go after them."

He said the driver became involved in a "fracas" on South Bank station after having his face spat on by the passenger, who was asked to turn down his music and take his feet off the seat.

As a result of the incident last November, Mr Doogan said the driver was excluded from the workforce until his sacking this week.

A Queensland Rail spokesman said they could not comment on individual cases but they "fully supported staff in their right to act in self-defence or the defence of others".

"However, we do not support the actions of those who provoke or escalate situations of conflict or violence," he said.

"Queensland Rail has a zero tolerance policy for violence in the workplace."

The threat of industrial action is the latest in a series of setbacks for Queensland Rail after two major network meltdowns in two weeks, and almost daily boom-gate collisions or point failures delaying services.

This weekend major maintenance work will close tracks between Roma Street and Corinda, Murarrie and Yeerongpilly from the first service today to the last one tomorrow.

Buses will run in the place of trains to 23 stations on the Beenleigh, Cleveland and Ipswich/Rosewood lines and travellers are advised to allow an extra hour for their journeys.

[Golliwog]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1331969748

Train industrial action reports - Monday 19 March
Last updated: 5.30pm, Saturday 17 March

Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) members have advised Queensland Rail that they plan to hold a meeting on Monday.

At this stage we do not expect this impact on morning peak train services.

Queensland Rail has advised they are endeavouring to work with the RTBU over the weekend to resolve the situation and avoid disruption to customers.

Customers should check translink.com.au for the latest information.

[#Metro]

Great, just what we need, icing on the proverbial cake :-0

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Queensland Rail's on-time tracker site off the rails

Queensland Rail's on-time tracker site off the rails

    by: Robyn Ironside
    From: The Courier-Mail
    March 19, 2012 12:00AM

QUEENSLAND Rail's online report card has broken down - at the same time as the train services it is supposed to track.

As daily disruptions to southeast Queensland's rail network play havoc with commuters, QR's on-time performance updates have suddenly halted.

The website, which is normally updated daily, has been untouched since March 8.

It follows a series of service delays relating to power outages, boom-gate collisions and other network issues.

The performance results show how many trains in peak periods arrive within four minutes of schedule. Queensland Rail is expected to achieve a "benchmark" of 93.77 per cent.

Over the weekend more Gold Coast trains were held up by power problems and water issues, while 23 stations were closed for maintenance work.

Commuter advocacy group Back on Track has suggested the omission of updates may be deliberate given the election campaign.

Spokesman Robert Dow said it was "a remarkable coincidence" the figures were unavailable after a series of "shockers" for the CityTrain network.

"You do wonder what's going on," said Mr Dow. "Is the information being suppressed because they don't want adverse comment or publicity?"

He said Back On Track had contacted QR about the lack of data, but had not been provided with an explanation. The Courier-Mail was yesterday told QR was now aware of the problem and it would be rectified as soon as possible.

A spokesman denied the information blackout was in any way related to the election.

Mr Dow said commuters were already denied the "full picture" because the only on-time performance data published related to peak periods.

"Often there's disruption outside the peak times," he said. "The public has a right to know the overall performance."

QR faces a bigger threat to train services today with rail, and bus union members meeting to discuss their response to the sacking of a driver over his involvement in a platform fracas.

A Fair Work Australia hearing was held last night in an apparent attempt by QR to put orders in place preventing any industrial action by drivers.

Union secretary Owen Doogan said QR had also introduced new instructions for union delegates in the workplace, insisting they give 24-hours notice before speaking to members.

"I think they're beginning to understand they have a real problem with their workforce (in relation to their treatment of the sacked driver)," he said.

Posted here for mention of industrial issue.  Timetable discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7913.0

[O_128]

I'd say its perfect timing for an all out strike, Might finally get some public transport policy 

[petey3801]

According to the union, it's not a Stop Work meeting, it's a meeting for those who are not actually working a train etc. at the time of the meeting.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland Rail fails in bid to block potential strike threat

[ozbob]

Industrial matters second half of this vid --> http://video.couriermail.com.au/2211831478/QR-Train-tracker-not-working

[somebody]

What so FWA said that they can strike but said nothing about whether they had to reinstate the worker?  Weird.