Several hundred members of the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) rallied on February 12 for decent pay and conditions.
Sydney Trains and NSW Labor are dragging out the enterprise bargaining process by refusing to agree to pay rises which keep up with the cost of living and they also want to cut safety.
They gathered in Hyde Park and marched to NSW Parliament.
Chants of “Union! Power!” and “When workers’ rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up! Fight back!” rang out in Macquarie Street, as they marched up.
ETU organiser Jesse Saville told the rally: “After 250 days at the negotiating table, we and management had advanced on 100 clauses of a new agreement.
“Then Sydney Trains suddenly wanted to bring in three new clauses which would remove consultation with workers over vital safety issues.
“Pay is important, but workplace safety is crucial. If management can remove Clause 35A, it will badly affect safety standards for workers and for the travelling public.”
Clause 35A of the current enterprise agreement obliges Sydney Trains, NSW Trains and Transport for NSW to ensure rail workers are involved in risk assessments before introducing changes to the rail network.
“It’s time for Chris Minns to sit down with workers and their unions and resolve this matter,” Saville said.
NSW ETU Secretary Allen Hicks said: “Sydney Trains can’t dictate to us what is acceptable. We need to get wage parity back up: It’s time to play catch-up now!
“We will never agree to losing our safety clause. And we need real pay rises.
“We have a message to the Premier and the Labor government: ‘You need to respect the essential workers in this state.’
“Essential Energy workers have been blocked; the nurses have been offered nothing. And you call yourselves a Labor government!”
rail_rally_jim.jpg
The rail unions are pushing for an 8% pay rise each year of the proposed four-year agreement. They also want a 35-hour work week, down from 38 hours.
Labor has offered 3.5% in the first year, 3% in the second and 3% in the third, as well as superannuation increases this year and next.
NSW Greens MPs Jenny Leong and Abigail Boyd offered their solidarity to the workers. “They can hear you inside the Parliament. Keep up the pressure!” Boyd said.
Aaron, an electrical worker at the Major Works depot, told Green Left: “The key issue in our dispute right now is the move by the government to remove union consultation for safety and for new projects.
“The unions are hindered by the new anti-union laws which limit industrial action.
“Meanwhile, the Rail Tram and Bus Union is inside parliament talking to the government without the ETU and other rail unions.
“We are determined to keep fighting for our rights and our claims,” Aaron said.