Relay Van Working – No Way!

International Railway Workers’ Action Day Campaign March 14 - NSW Locomotive Division

ASR proposal will wipe out Drivers' jobs in rural NSW

Australian Southern Railroad has applied for accreditation in NSW to operate a six-month trial of Relay Van Working between Dry Creek in Adelaide, SA, and Parkes in NSW.

Using the same relay van working it has between Adelaide and Perth, ASR would cut the present Adelaide - Parkes 3 x two-Driver crews to only 2 x two-Driver crews, with a 40 hour layover in a motel in Parkes. The same two crews would then return to Dry Creek, and take a 24 hour break before doing it all again. This is a five day cycle away from home, and will destroy Drivers' family and social life.

This 30% cut in jobs allows ASR to operate trains into NSW without employing any crew in NSW. If this Relay Van Working gets started, then all other operators can be expected to ask for the same. This could eliminate all NSW intermodal freight Driver jobs, especially in regional NSW.

Unlike the Nullabor Plain, where there are no towns, there is absolutely no need for relay van working into NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

Safety

With Relay Van Working, Drivers are expected to shift from the crash-protected cab to a travelling van - still the workplace - which is not designed to withstand a crash. Trailing the relay van could possibly be a 4,000 tonne train, which has the potential to crush the van in an accident.

There have been no tests carried out in Australia on the effect of relay van noise, vibration and diesel fumes on the health and fatigue levels of Drivers. The only crash tests have been real crashes.

International Action Day for Rail Safety

The RTBU National Council decided to strongly support the ITF world action day on March 14. Its overall theme is: safety first, not profit.

The NSW Locomotive Division is making Relay Van Working and harmonised train radio communications its focus for the ITF International Action Day for Rail Safety.

The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) is a federation of 621 transport trade unions in 137 countries, representing around 5 million workers.

The ITF was founded in 1896 in London by European seafarers' and dockers' union leaders who realized the need to organise internationally against strike breakers. Today the ITF organises workers in ships, ports, railways, road freight and passenger transport, inland waterways, fisheries, tourism and civil aviation.

The ITF represents transport workers at world level and promotes their interests through global campaigning and solidarity. It is dedicated to the advancement of independent and democratic trade unionism, and to the defence of fundamental human and trade union rights. It is opposed to any form of totalitarianism, aggression and discrimination.

The ITF is one of 10 Global Union Federations (former International Trade Secretariats) allied to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU).