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ITF / RTBU International Rail Safety Action Day - March 26 By Roger Jowett Rail safety has always been the number one priority for railworkers. Every working day the RTBU, through its members, Branches and Divisions, pursues safety issues, whether it’s security for front line staff and passengers, enhanced safety systems, manning levels and the constant demand by management to increase the pressure on workers, driver only operations, remote control locomotives, lack of spending on essential maintenance, and impairment issues. The agenda is a big one for the RTBU and its members. If necessary the RTBU will take industrial action to protect our members and the travelling public. The last 10 years have seen the greatest change ever in the operation and structure of the Australian rail industry because of privatisation, separation of operations and infrastructure in many states, open access and contracting out. In 1990 the state rail systems and Australian National owned and operated the track and train operation. They were publicly owned. The railway was responsible for safe operations, paid from the railway department's budget. Over the last 10 years the railway industry in Australia and throughout the world has been turned upside down. The safety issues today are substantially greater than with integrated, single manager railway systems. RTBU supports ITF Day of Action The ITF has organised a Rail Safety Action Day For March 26th this year. The ITF will mobilise railway unions throughout the world around railway safety. The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) unites 570 transport workers unions in over 132 countries. It represents the global interest of transport workers through international solidarity. Founded in 1896 it is organised in eight industrial sections. The Railway Workers Section membership includes some 140 unions in nearly 80 countries world wide representing 1.4 million members. The Action Day will mobilise members on the job to participate in an international activity at their local level. Discussion is underway in many RTBU Branches, Divisions and workplaces. The focus will be on job issues, such as:- - In NSW, the Loco Division will focus on level crossings, radio communication and fatigue management. In South Australia, members have identified security for front line workers and the travelling public, together with safety issues for infrastructure workers.
- In Victoria, the RTBU recently had industrial action against the urban rail operator Connex, a French multinational, over their cost-cutting plans which, without RTBU action, would have led to extensive job losses, greater security problems, fare evasion and closure of stations.
- In National Rail terminals, the RTBU has been campaigning to increase manning levels to handle the work load because if we don't the pressure will be on to ease back on the rules and regulations in order to get the job done.
- In Queensland members have been fighting against job cuts in infrastructure.
RTBU Branches and Divisions are choosing the most appropriate actions based on local conditions and issues. The global economy is in a period of extraordinary change. No country is exempt from this process. Today in Australia we have US, British and French multinationals owning and operating railways together with massive Australian companies such as Wesfarmers, Patricks and Toll Holdings. Rail remains one of the safest and most environmentally efficient ways to travel and transport goods and the ITF and railway unions will fight to keep it that way. Source: RTBU National Secretary
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