Rail workers step in to save station cleaners’ jobs
Two sacked cleaners at Melbourne’s iconic Flinders Street Station have won their jobs back after joining with other rail workers to fight their boss. Ada and Lilly [not their real names] were sacked by cleaning contractor ISS, after they had refused to shift from permanent to casual positi...CONTINUE READING
After strike ban, NSW rail workers’ campaign loses steam
The campaign by NSW railway workers has come to a disappointing end, management winning a slim majority for a new enterprise agreement. The deal falls well short of the demands of railway workers. After the Fair Work Commission banned a planned rail workers’ strike, Sydney Trains and NSW T...CONTINUE READING
Rail union win: job cuts stopped
In September, the Victorian Labor government signed a seven-year contract extension with Melbourne’s metropolitan rail operator, Metro Trains. Hidden in the contract – which was kept secret from rail workers and our union – was a Public Transport Victoria proposal to cut local control desk...CONTINUE READING
Rail bosses on the attack in Victoria
Across the Victorian passenger rail network, workers are facing a series of attacks on jobs and conditions. The regional rail operator, V/Line, is trying to vary its enterprise agreement with its workforce, just 12 months before the agreement is due to expire. Earlier this year, the compan...CONTINUE READING
Sydney Trains at breaking point
The effects of the long term neglect of the Sydney rail system were displayed in dramatic fashion in mid-January, as the ageing system ground to a halt due to a shortage of drivers and guards to operate the new timetable. For three days, people faced significant crowding on trains and plat...CONTINUE READING
Melbourne train drivers force safety measures
Metro Trains employees hear over and over again that “safety is the number one priority” in our industry. In every bulletin, every press release and every staff meeting we’re reminded. Every time we hear it, we snigger – not because we don’t take safety seriously but because we know that t...CONTINUE READING