RTBU-PacNat Member's Union Collective Agreement 2006 Update Newsflash! 72

Update on Status of Agreements:

We are pleased to be able to report that all of the processes including sorting out wording issues and having each party's legal representatives go through each of the documents has finally come to an end. As of this week, all of the Agreements are beginning to be circulated to the respective depots and terminals.

The next step of the process is to conduct briefing sessions and a voting process for each of the Agreements. The briefing sessions will commence at the end of this week for some of the Agreements and is set to conclude early in the week ending 22 December.

Briefing Meetings:

The table below sets out the details of the meeting locations, dates and times for the Intermodal Train Crew, Intermodal Terminal and Operations Services Agreements. The schedules for the Northern Coal, Southern Coal, Industrial and Grain Business Divisions are still being finalised and members will be advised of those meetings at the earliest possible opportunity. Please Note that the times in the tables below are local times at the respective locations.

Operations Services (Maintainers):

Intermodal Train Crew:

Intermodal Terminals:

It is extremely important you attend the meeting at your location if at all possible. The Agreements are about your working future and you have every right to attend and have your say or simply listen to the information being provided.

There will be at least one 'main' meeting in most locations, conducted by an RTBU Official. It may also be necessary to conduct some meetings where there are only a small number of employees in a Business Division by telephone hook up rather than a physical meeting. If there is a 'main meeting at your location you are strongly encouraged to attend that meeting.

The company has agreed to ensure the local delegate(s) at each location are to be made available to attend all meetings at their respective locations. If it is necessary to conduct more than one meeting in a particular location, it may be the local delegate rather than an RTBU official who conducts the additional meetings. The logistics of conducting so many meetings in a limited period of time is very difficult to co-ordinate, hence the need to utilise the assistance of the local delegates. Following the meetings conducted by an RTBU official the local delegates will have had the opportunity to observe the meeting and will be supplied with Speakers Notes, Presentation Notes, etc to assist them if further meetings are required.

The RTBU has put a proposal to the company that there should be a two hour payment at single time rates for employees who attend a briefing meeting when they are not rostered to work. Pacific National has not yet responded to the RTBU proposal.

Voting Processes

All employees attending the briefing sessions MUST sign an attendance record sheet. At the conclusion of each briefing meeting a 'show of hands' vote will take place. The outcome of the vote will be recorded (the number of those in favour or against). Pacific National representatives will not be present when the vote is taken.

In addition to the show of hands vote, there will be an opportunity for employees who are unable to attend the meetings to cast their vote by an absentee process. The finer details of the absentee voting process are being discussed between the parties and members will be advised of the process at the earliest possible opportunity.

Further Information:

Members can expect to gain further information regarding their respective Agreement meetings in the near future through either future Newsletters or through your local RTBU delegate. You are encouraged to speak with your local RTBU delegate if you have any questions regarding the meetings affecting you.

Newsflash!@Home:

If you would like to receive future UCA Newsflashes to your personal home email please email Greg Harvey at gharvey@rtbu-nat.asn.au with your name, your location, your classification and your email address and you will be added to the email list.

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