PacNat EBA RTBU News Flash No. 28

In this edition of your RTBU Newsflash!...... Update of Issues Raised in Delegate's Resolution

The RTBU is aware that Pacific National has recently circulated a Newsletter stating that the Enterprise Agreement document has been agreed by the parties. This is not the case at this stage.

There has certainly been substantial movement by the company on a number of the key issues, however there are still some outstanding issues that would have dramatic effects on members.

In Newsflash! 27 the RTBU referred to a number of issues that remained unresolved, as contained within the resolution from the National Delegate Conference.

In this edition of the RTBU Newsflash! we will outline in detail what the outstanding issues are, and where they are up to. Below you will find the outstanding issues outlined in the resolution, followed by the current status of each those issues.

1. Pacific National to provide full salary maintenance to former FreightCorp Drivers.

Pacific National is attempting to divide RTBU members. The company has stated that they will not pass on the 2nd 4% wage increase to the former FreightCorp Drivers unless Driver Only Operations are implemented in the Hunter Valley by the 1st July 2004.

The RTBU feels that it is being blackmailed by the company on an issue that the RTBU has no control over. The RTBU is NOT holding up the introduction of D.O.O in New South Wales. The company is well aware that the Rail Regulator in NSW will not allow the introduction of D.O.O in NSW before the Waterfall Inquiry Report has been handed down.

The Waterfall Inquiry Report is due to be handed down in three stages in the new year, with the last stage not expected until June 2004. Therefore, Pacific National is demanding that the RTBU deliver on an issue that it has no control over, and failure to do so will result in the penalising of Pacific National employees who also have no control over these events.

This position has been relayed to RTBU Delegates across Australia who have unanimously identified this latest claim by the company as a last minute divide and conquer tactic. At every location contacted (including former NRC locations) this claim has been rejected.

2. The Sick Pay accumulation bank for former NRC employees to operate from the date of certification of the EBA.

Despite agreeing verbally to do so during the negotiation of the Agreement, Pacific National has not yet changed the wording in the document to reflect that agreed position. This remains an outstanding issue.

3. That the few items raised by Delegates to be taken back to Pacific National for comment / negotiation.

Many of the issues raised by Delegates at the Conference have been raised with and addressed by the company. These relate mainly to interpretation and wording issues. There is a further meeting with the company on Thursday to further 'tidy up' the document.

4. Pacific National Delegates are given time to fully explain the document to members during working hours.

The company has agreed to allow Delegates the opportunity to walk and talk members through the document at workplace meetings where practical. In addition to this, it is anticipated that RTBU Officials will be available to attend Terminals or Depots where required to explain the document. The company has agreed that provided the meetings are held at appropriate 'quiet times' at the location and a skeleton crew is provided where necessary, members who are rostered off during the meeting times will be entitled to payment at single time rates to attend the meetings.

5. The comprehensive explanatory material is provided to members by both the RTBU and Pacific National to ensure that the most complex EBA in the railway industry is understood by all employees. This is to include actual roster outcomes and salaries at each depot.

During the latest meeting with the company the RTBU again raised the issue of the company providing actual rosters and what they meant in terms of money for each location. The company stated that they were currently working on these documents but as yet the RTBU has not received any of them.

6. Pacific National accept our Driver Only Operations and Relay Working Proposals.

Despite being issued with copies of these documents, to date there has been no response from the company.

7. That when the above conditions are met, the RTBU will, after the requirements of the Workplace Relations Act have been met, present and support the draft EBA to all members at paid stop work meetings.

See 4 above.

Members will continue to be advised, through future editions of the Newsflash!, of any developments on the issues outlined above or any other issues which will affect the outcome of the Enterprise Agreement negotiations.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact your local RTBU Delegate, your State Branch or the National Office.