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Welcome to another edition of Sparks.
"Privatisation Octopus"
The destructive tentacles of the privatisation octopus are spreading
ever more in public transport in NSW and creating increasing carnage.
Animating this corporate enrichment creature are the policies of the
Howard and Carr Govts. which are seeking to implement in Australia this
key agenda of international capitalism and its agencies such as the US
Govt. One of the most disastrous aspects of this carnage which stems
from the selloff of Freight rail services to Corrigan of Patricks
Stevedores with the blessings of the RTBU (Rail Tram & Bus Union)
hierarchy is the present move to abolish Country Link rail services (See
article page ). The RTBU hierarchy and other rail unions are just
rolling over before this savage attack. Just going through the motions
of defending Country Link and its workforce. The current push to rip up
the Newcastle rail line and terminate passenger trains to there is also
connected with the Govt's favouring of Corrigan's Freight rail
services in the railway system (See article page ). Whilst the
aspects of (CSM) Customer Service Management which are incorporated in
the enterprise agreement will facilitate the restructuring of the
CityRail station network for its eventual carve up into franchises to
be sold off to the Govt's business mates.
The formation of local committees of the grass roots in each workplace
and their networking to form coordinating committees would be an
important step toward launching effective action which could include
lighting strikes, mass sickies, work to rule similar to the actions
taken by the Drivers for Affirmative Action early in 2004 and blockades
to save the railways from its international corporate offensive
COUNTRYLINK
Sparks: What’s happening with Country Link?
Station Assistant: The ARTC (Australian Rail Track Corporation) is going
to takeover Country Link operations. Resulting in the replacement of
Country Link rail services with bus/coach services in a years’ time. The
ARTC which is based in Broad Meadows is a new quasi Government
organisation which will be operating on a profit making basis. The
abolition of the Country Link rail services is a move to assist
Corrigan’s freight services, by eliminating delays caused by passenger
services. It’s certainly a black day for the railways, after 150 years
of country passenger train services operated by the NSW railways.
Sparks: What’s the situation with rail maintenance staff in the country?
SA: With the move to privatise much of country rail traffic, a question
arises whether maintenance staff will also remain in Rail Corp. In the
case of the Freight Loco maintenance depot at Junie, it’s likely to be
out sourced to a private company.
Sparks: What’s the latest with the enterprise agreement?
SA: We are being offered a 12% rise over 3 years. From feedback I’ve
received at least 4 out of 5 staff at Central would be willing to accept
the rise. One inducement for acceptance of the deal is the back payment
of the rise. However, many workers fail to realise that this back pay
will be hit by 40% tax. Those workers who would oppose management’s
offer are particularly those whom are having numerous rosters imposed on
them. In some cases at Central, as many as 6 rosters are being imposed
on workers. Its likely Costa will use the enterprise agreement to
introduce aspects of CSM (Customer Service management) by stealth. These
aspects include lower grade staff such as duty managers taking over the
station master job duties/responsibilities on the smaller stations and
these duties on the weekends at the larger stations, without appropriate
remuneration.
REDFERN STATION NEWS
Sparks: What’s happening at Redfern Station?
SA: Latest news is that the former big boss at the station got the sack
following his generous sharing of a delicious knuckle sandwich with
another staff member. He and his bosom companion, the former boss of
Central have been called to appear in the hot seat before an ICAC
inquiry into mysterious but apparently lucrative shenanigans.
Sparks: What’s the latest with moves to establish a Qld AFULE (Train
Drivers Union which never merged with other unions to form the Rail Tram
& Bus Union (Rail Tram & Bus Union) section in NSW?
SA: In recent weeks, the Qld AFULE, held an organising meeting in
Sydney. It was poorly attended. The Qld AFULE was even unable to recruit
the small number of 35 to 40 from the meeting, needed to register a
union in NSW. Apparently a major contribution to the low attendance was
a campaign of censorship by the bosses and the union hierarchy.
Inspectors and union reps put quite an effort into ripping down notices
for the meeting ensuring few knew of it and the likelihood of a low
attendance. Management and the union hierarchy viewed the Qld AFULE move
as a major threat to their cosy set up and sought to ensure there was no
alternative option for those unhappy with the RTBU officials’
performance. Showing their contempt for democratic principles.
Assuming the Qld AFULE establishes a branch in Sydney, its likely most
station staff will leave the RTBU and join it. However, John Robertson
of the NSW Labor Council and other members of the Rightwing ALP machine
in the unions are likely to intervene to foil the move. As a major
bastion of the faction will be threatened.
In regard to union elections held early in December, typically there had
been little advertising at Central. However, a “How to Vote Card”
endorsed by Lewocki, the State Secretary has been widely distributed.
Although, some staff who allegedly endorsed the Rightwing ALP ticket for
the union elections on the card, were unaware that their names had been
used for endorsements.
Sparks: What are your thoughts on the recent spate of timetable chaos?
SA: As a result of increased safety monitoring of train operations,
since the Waterfall Derailment Inquiry, drivers have been unable to
speed to make up time to meet the unrealistic timetables. Consequently,
the timetable has completely fallen down. An important reason for the
overall problem is the neglect by Governments over the years in regard
to expanding the railway system into new outlying suburbs and the
investment in new infrastructure.
The media has been seizing on this chaos to incite commuters and the
public against the railways and rail workers. The hidden agenda of the
media being to assist the Carr Govt’s deliberate running down of the
railways in the interest of the oil and roads lobby and privatisation
designs which forms a key global strategy of multinational companies and
its agencies such as the US Govt. The public is generally unaware of the
grave consequences of the privatisation of Govt. owned entities down the
track for their standard of living. As the loss of Govt. income from
them will mean the Govt. will later on cut into pensions, causing their
stagnation with the elimination of CPI increases.
Sparks: What do you think of the Carr Govt’s decision to close the
Newcastle rail line?
SA: Currently, the decision to close the line and Newcastle station has
gone into the next phase involving its referral to a committee. The land
in the rail corridor and station is to be split up into 38 parcels. The
Carr Govt has promised that there will be no rail job losses associated
with the ripping up the rail line, the closure of the station, and the
land grab. It has also claimed that the closure of the rail line and its
replacement with a fast bus service will generate 4,000 new jobs and
$300 mill. in income pa. However, the hidden agenda is very much one of
neo liberalism involving privatisation and casualisation to assist Big
Business and reduce workers’ wages and conditions. An obvious reduction
in workers wages involves the replacement of train crews with bus
drivers. Currently, train drivers are on $70,000 to $90,000 pa. Whilst,
private bus drivers are on only $40,000 pa. Those workers who will be
employed in new retail businesses in the area associated with its
redevelopment most likely will be largely casuals, which are on much
worse conditions than full time employees. The takeover of public
transport by private company owned bus services will further power drive
the privatisation push in NSW.
The take over of the land in the Newcastle rail corridor by developers,
certainly shows the big influence this group has on the Carr Govt and
its Front Bench in Parliament. However, local politicians are opposed to
the line closure and are campaigning against it, claiming the City of
Newcastle is being given 2^nd rate infrastructure.
The Newcastle line closure is definitely forming a pattern. With the
Govt’s takeover of railways land previously used by rail workshops in
Redfern and its current plan to seize the Aboriginal owned “Block” in
Redfern and public housing in Redfern/Waterloo for major private housing
redevelopment. The Govt’s closure of the Orangegrove shopping centre
must also be seen in this context.
Another obvious key big business interest which will be favoured by the
Newcastle line closure is Corrigan’s freight services to the port of
Newcastle as delays caused by passenger services will be reduced. Banks
and insurance companies are also likely to benefit from high interest
rates and insurance payments from businesses establishing outlets on the
land.
Given this neo liberal push of the Carr Govt., there certainly appears
little difference between it and the Howard Govt. on the federal level.
The Howard Govt is ever more following the US Bush Govt’s neo liberal
initiatives. The latest is Howard’s talk of further cuts to social
security, following similar announcements by Bush in the US.
The media is playing along with the Carr Govt’s malevolent designs on
the Newcastle line. In a recent article in a Newcastle paper, the
ripping up of rail lines as in the case of Newcastle was inferred as
quite a normal activity of Govts. The Carr Govt’s plans were heavily
promoted. Whilst the campaign of resistance by local politicians and the
community in the area was down played.
WAVERLEY DEPOT REPORT
Sparks: What's happening at the Edgecliff Interchange?
Waverley Busie: Recently I was speaking to the owner of the Flower Shop,
near the entrance to New South Head Road at the interchange. He told me
he had been obliged to relocate upstairs near the escalator from his
previous location, presumably for safety reasons, earlier in the year.
At the new location, he thought he had a permanent spot. However he was
given only a 6 months lease. At the end of the lease, he approached
the railways regarding an extension. They washed their hands on the
matter and referred him to approach the East Point Shopping Centre
management. They gave him notice that his lease was terminated and that
he had until to close of business that day to move his operation.
Causing him to get rid of all his flowers, which otherwise would be
spoiled.
I could understand his situation and felt a sense of empathy. As the
big was callously pushing aside the interests of the small, which
brings me to the next point.
Sparks: What's happening with the Bondi Junction interchange?
WB: Following the decision of a union meeting at Waverley, a leaflet has
been produced and issued by us to commuters regarding the bus mall at
the interchange. The leaflet consists of letter asking Waverley Council
to get the mall road widened and explaining why Waverley drivers have
banned stopping in the bus mall until a correct decision is made on the
mall by the Council and for commuters to not blame drivers for any
inconvenience caused by the industrial action. The narrowness of the
roadway reflects the narrowness of the Westfields management outlook.
Illustrated with its failure to seek input from the grass roots on the
job regarding its plans. Several weeks ago at a further union meeting
at Waverley, a management proposal for a retrial of stopping in the bus
mall was unanimously rejected. If the bosses gain any toehold on the
issue, they will fully exploit the opportunity to get their way. We have
to take a united stand on the bus mall.
Sparks: What's happening with the mechanical section at the depot?
WB: There is plenty of evidence that the bosses have been sowing some
very wild oats in this section, with the sprouting out of the wood work
of a seedy new boss, David Yates, who had previously been employed by
West Bus. I've heard a whisper that the bosses are planning a savage
speed up drive in the section which will reduce mechanics' scope for
overtime and cause a major staff cut. Under this plan each mechanic
would be responsible for the repair of 7 buses, whilst they are
currently responsible for 4 buses. Consequently, there is likely to be
a downsizing in the mechanical workforce at Waverley by possibly one
third. Some of the bus repair work would also be out sourced to
private companies. This out sourcing is likely to cause delays to
repairs and faulty repairs as private companies may have a motivation to
cut corners to make profits.
Is the big picture, that this rumoured speed up drive at Waverley is to
be the spearhead of a generalised speed up drive throughout the
mechanical sections at all depots aimed at a major reduction in workshop
staffing? Is it retaliation by management for the mechanics' recent
militant stoppage and pickets over their enterprise agreement? Even some
of the bosses such as Bruce Eldridge have disagreed with seedy Yates'
hard line approach. Why are the bosses employing someone like that? Do
we have to put up with someone like that? Certainly our magazine Sparks
has an important role in spotlighting such hot issues and assisting the
resistance of those who feel intimidated by the bosses!
Sparks: How are things with the Institute?
WB: Drivers' families and friends are most welcome to come along and try
out the delicious food available on the canteen menu. They should not be
off by the bosses' ludicrous paranoia that the depot is a terrorist
target. The star attraction is George, chef extraordinaire. He is a very
modest man who was dragged out of retirement and has had quite an
illustrious background in his field. He has previously worked as a chef
at the Menzies Hotel, Studio 66 and even owned his own restaurant in
Mosman. So don't hesitate to make a beeline to our Institute, and enjoy
some great socialising and comradeship. The Institute has been a bit
quiet lately and needs some revamping on the social side of life.
Sparks: What are your thoughts on the recent moves of the Carr Govt. to
cut rail services?
WB: How come the Carr Govt. was able to find the money to improve public
transport services at the time of the Olympics? However, it is now
resorting to the axe on rail services with constant rail service
cutbacks, driving ever more commuters to rely on their cars. Since the
latest spate of rail timetable chaos, its been estimated that 25,000
cars have come onto the road.
On a recent Day Break TV Show on Channel 7, there was an interesting
program looking at public transport in major cities in Australia. NSW
received quite a rap on the knuckles. Adelaide received high marks. An
important reason for his high rating is that the layout of Adelaide
which is very symmetrical with many cross roads is very suitable for
operating public transport. Whilst Brisbane was seen as improving public
transport services. Perth received a mixed response by the program. The
program showed that the privatisation of govt. buses in Perth had led
to a cutback in services. Citizens approached by the program considered
that this reduction in bus services was inevitable as the management of
private companies are mainly looking at making profits and increasing
the dividends of share holders.
Sparks: What do you think is the agenda behind Carr's talk in the press
of only 38% of State Transit bus routes making a profit?
WB: In using this figure, Carr is failing to take account of various
factors affecting the raising of revenue such as the fact that
pensioners currently only pay $1.10 for all day tickets and school
students in the evening may catch up to 5-6 trips for free. What's the
situation with the other 62% of other bus routes? What's Carr's hidden
agenda with this comment? Is it a ploy to lay the ground work for
corporatisation? Will the bosses be demanding that we make even more
sacrifices in the shape of further speed ups in our jobs and the cut
back of unprofitable bus routes?
Union action and grass roots initiative must be taken to challenge Carr
on the spreading of this misleading information involving his brazen
massaging of the facts for a nefarious agenda.
"The Great Wall of State Transit"
Sparks: What's happening on the buses?
WB: A great wall is appearing in the buses in the shape of the
installation of perspex bars in a metal frame separating the driver
from passengers, obstructing communication. Its ironic that the bosses
have resorted to this muzzling of communication with commuters, when
they have been crowing about winning an award in 2004 for their training
courses, which they claim has reduced friction between drivers and
commuters.
I feel this heavy handed initiative is totally inappropriate. The best
means to maintain good relations between drivers and passengers and
improve the security situation is to enhance drivers' communication
skills. A lot of drivers come from the old model of communication based
on protecting and avoiding, and justifying defensiveness. A new model of
communication could be encouraged which would emphasise drivers working
with passengers on the basis acknowledging, accepting , forgiving and
being generous with their time and energy. As a result, drivers would
become more at ease at handling passengers and relaxed in their job,
improving the security situation. Currently, the bosses are taking
advantage of some drivers getting complaints due to their problems
relating to passengers, to put the jack boot in.
Latest news is that I've heard on the grape vine that at Leichhardt
depot a petition has been launched to bulldoze the bosses' "Great Wall".
Sparks: How do the buses here compare with the buses overseas?
WB: I was recently speaking to a bloke on the bus from America who
expressed surprise regarding the use of natural gas by our buses for
often between 12 and 14 hours during the day. He commented that in the
US, the buses have tanks for both gas and petrol. The buses initially
use gas and then go on to use petrol. The gas buses have proven to be
very safe. In State Transit, there are 500-600 gas buses and despite
the gas being quite volatile, I have heard of no explosions caused by
the gas. However, petrol is even more volatile as a fuel and has a
greater potential for explosions from leaks.
Sparks: What are your thoughts on Howard's victory in the recent federal
elections?
WB: I am quite puzzled regarding why many workers voted for Howard and
the Coalition, when they are quite hostile to workers' interests with
their moves to demolish workers' and unions' rights in the workplace,
refusal to sign the Kyoto Treaty on Green House Gases and are such close
supporters of George Bush's corrupt administration in the US. Whilst,
before the election over one million people, which must have included
many workers, marched against the Iraq invasion championed by the Howard
Govt.
Certainly, one reason is that the ALP has no genuine program and has
close relations with Big Business. Its policies are very similar to the
Liberals such as their support for privatisation. I've heard recently
the ALP is intending to abandon any connections with unions. What has
happened to this one time workers' party? Both major parties are
sounding ever more ruthless regarding workers' interests. Currently
Howard is grasping how to use his greatly enhanced power in July with
his control of the Senate. 0ther reasons why some workers voted for
Howard was his rhetoric that if you weren't on his side you were going
along with terrorism or supporters of the loony Left or illegal
migrants. Refugees were particularly demonised as though they were
criminals. One day, could this happen to you? Despite this rhetoric,
Australia is ever more unsafe in regard to the threat of terrorist
incidents, particularly stemming from Australia's intervention on behalf
of the US in the ever widening and intensifying guerrilla insurgency in
Iraq. The media constantly focuses on the US and the Bush Regime, but
Canada, our fellow Commonwealth member in North America, which lacks an
aggressive and interventionist foreign policy is rarely mentioned.
Other factors accounting for the Howard victory is the likely invaluable
advice his son brought back from the US in regard to manipulating the
media. Whilst the Liberal tentacles were very wide spread and active
behind the scenes 18 months to 2 years before and during the election
period. Manipulating talk back radio programs, weakening environmental
and various left groups by much more auditing of tax deductable
donations to these groups and dividing them on various issues. One group
which is particularly helping Howard with his rightwing agenda, which he
has recently praised is the rightwing Family First Party which is
dominated by Pentecostals. The same group in the US amounting to 38
million members, has been a major supporter of George Bush and his
invasion of Iraq.
I believe Howard has deployed an ultra rightwing strategy reminiscent of
Adolf Hitler and the Nazis in Germany during the 30's and 40's. Its
based on dividing one group from another in society and demonising
minorities, whilst inciting nationalist hysteria.
Sparks: What are your thoughts on the recent tsunamis disaster
affecting parts of Asia and Africa?
WB: Our thoughts go out to the many thousands of people who perished in
the tsunamis and those Australians in the affected area who are not
accounted for. The Howard Govt. should be pouring resources into helping
out the people in such disasters, rather than providing large sums from
our taxes to abet the nefarious global interventions of the Bush regime
such as its recent conquest of Iraq and embroiling in the current
bloody insurgency.
*BROOKVALE DEPOT NEWS, OPINION & OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY*
Sparks - How did the recent election go at your depot?
Amigo - I think there is healthy competition taking place. More
candidates have shown an interest in being elected.
Sparks - But we have had different candidates take over before and it
has not really made any significant difference. Do you think there will
be any real difference now if there is a change of Rep?
Amigo - In my personal opinion no, I don't think there will be the
substantial change needed. I say that having being in the union for
about 13 years prior to my resignation. Even though different Reps took
over I noticed that after they went 'down town' a couple of times they
came back as different people having to 'tow the line'.
Sparks - Are you saying that it's a system problem rather than a Rep
problem?
Amigo - Yes, I think the system is tightly controlled from above.
Unfortunately, the Members are not controlling the agenda at local level
as suggested by Sparks (see back page). So the system from above is
geared up to maintain the 'status quo' i.e. keep the Workers educated
only to limit their claims to small yearly percentage figures like 3% to
5% whilst other groups, like Directors and CEO can claim & get pay rises
up to 30% or more. Also, when they leave their positions, because they
are well connected, they can also get a few million in severance pay,
etc. Politicians, get to fix their own salaries and fat superannuation,
etc. So, with this evidence of inequality and discrimination, how can we
say that we have good genuine Unions claiming equal rights for paying
Members?
Sparks - But Amigo, surely it's a case of 'every man has their price' if
the Workers & their Unions are happy to accept the inequality, then why
should you or anyone worry about it?
Amigo - Well I see it as a big case of right & wrong. If we want to fix
World hunger, if we want to do away with Monopoly power where about 95%
of the Worlds wealth is owned and controlled by about 5% of the
population, then we have to face and tackle the problem of inequality as
indicated above. It should be a simply fix, i.e. Workers should be
claiming in their EBA's and/or Workplace Agreements the same or very
similar rights and benefits as enjoyed by other groups in the same
production process.
Sparks - What about Occupational Health & Safety Issues?
Amigo - For me there's a few problems there. I think some Engineering
staff need more training in this area. For example:
a) in the Volvo bus some one has cut and fitted a real sharp plastic
fitting on the side wall of the Driver's cabin. As a consequence my leg
catches this sharp fitting and gets cut. Also my hands get cut when I
operate the spring loaded vent lever. As it slams shut suddenly, the
hand also moves back suddenly right on to the sharp fitting. The result
is cuts and bleeds.
b) Fitting of air conditioning vents to blow directly into Driver's ears
and neck is not a healthy thing to do, yet they've done it! It causes me
ear discomfort and infections, when its in heat mode, it makes me
drowsy, etc.
c) The STA is still not able to maintain buses clean in operation. Buses
exit the yard clean in the morning, but are not cleaned until 24 hours
later. This means that as buses are rubbished during operation they are
not cleaned out so Drivers have to operate new trips with buses with
cans, bottles and open sandwiches, etc in them. This is a disgusting
situation. The STA should obviously have mobile cleaners to attend to
buses on a 'needs basis'. Our customers pay and deserve a clean trip!
d) The STA are creating 5 hour long shifts without any recovery time at
the end when it's common knowledge that about 15% or more of the time,
these busy shifts need more than five hours to be completed. Most of the
time when buses run late the radio becomes jammed with late running
calls and are unable to deal with the problem. Drivers simply cannot log
on. This to me is a legal breach and dirty trick on the part of the STA.
Surely its emotional blackmail. What they are banking on I think is that
as we can't get hold of radio for adjustment and we just drive on anyway
over our five hour limits because they know many Drivers are
conscientious and want to take their customers home, so we end up
driving over 5 hours frequently.
e) Steering wheels are allowed to become too old in operation with the
top surface of the wheels being corroded and flaking away so become
abrasive to the hands causing blisters and other dermatological
conditions. Even cancer could be a possibility as some plastics are
known to be cancer producing. Healthy wheels should be shiny and well
polished so as not to be abrasive to hands.
Sparks - How is the forced drug testing going?
Amigo - I think (thankfully) its in low key mode. No real statistics
were provided to indicate that there are problems in this area. I feel
lots of sensationalism has been created for the purposes of justifying
'contracts for the boys'. The 'pretend' jobs industry in Australia is
growing to big proportions. Australian tax payers in real jobs, backed
up by real demand are paying through the nose in taxes for this I feel.
Sparks - But the forced testing is surely going to push up sickness and
absence levels.
Amigo - Yes and so it should. Drivers would be putting themselves at
risk if they come into work after having even just one drink within 6
hours of signing on. Check it out but I think that is what the sign
says, something like this 'if you had any alcohol at all in the last 6
hours you will not be fit for work'. This means if you went out to lunch
at 1pm had a meal and a glass of wine you should not sign on for your
afternoon shift because you could, if tested, be branded a criminal. In
these cases surely its best to take a sickie?
Sparks - How have the forced tests affected you personally?
Amigo - Well, I have to keep strictly to the instructions. Hence I have
had to take extra sick leave, for example I had the flu. My doctor
prescribed amoxicillin. This has a very low and insignificant
drowsy/relaxing effect on me but which prohibits me from driving the
bus under the drug regime rules. However, I know I can drive that bus
safely and I also know that my reflexes and awareness levels, being a
professional Driver, are proper & still better than about 80% of all the
other Drivers, for example I think I am better than most younger
Drivers and better than most old pensioner Drivers. They are the highest
risk groups are they not? Anyhow, when penicillin is prescribed the
point is the whole course must be taken and finished. This can take
several days which means that I cannot return to work until I finish the
medication. This is why I think sick leave will have to increase.
Previously under the same conditions I was able to return to work after
two or three days without causing any accidents (I have a clean licence
to prove it). In reality, I think most of the accidents on the roads are
due to bad road construction and planning. The evidence is clear i.e.
just a few examples, in Pittwater Road at the Cross Street intersection
the 3 lanes in Pittwater Road are not straight and run (without notice)
run into other lanes. Many people not knowing the road get caught out.
Its obvious to me that accidents there will occur. Also, driving up
Harbord Road just before Wyadra there are two lanes but when you cross
over Wyadra one lane suddenly disappears into one lane forcing cars
travelling together to merge into each other. You have to be very good
to be driving alongside someone in your lane at 60kph when one lane
suddenly disappears then what would happen? Only those who are very
good drivers and who know the road can avoid injury and death. Obviously
there should be a sign way back to inform of the merging lanes
conditions but there is not! Are the bureaucrats really serious about
road safety or are they just using it to make money and elevate their
own careers?
KINGSGROVE DEPOT REPORT
Sparks: What has been happening at Kingsgrove?
Kingsgrove Driver: Well most people seem to be pretty sedated by the
first 5% pay rise coming out of our new Enterprise Bargaining Contract.
I think that drivers has been denied a decent wage for so long that even
when we are thrown crumbs by this state government people feel like they
are getting ahead. There had been a real sense of foreboding that we
were going to get another tiny pay rise and lose lots of our conditions.
Perhaps the union hierarchy have been clever this time and lowered
everyone's expectations so that a trivial pay rise like 5% would look
like we have hit the Jackpot.
Sparks: Do you think you deserve more?
KD: I know we do. I know what it is like to have to drive through the
chaos of peak hour traffic in a city that was designed for the horse and
cart. We are constantly under pressure to meet timetables, negotiate
traffic jams, balance the float, be the customer service expert and
answer all sorts of questions about the bus network. This job used to be
done by a driver and a conductor, the buses were smaller and the traffic
on the streets was half of what it is today.
We are out on our own with all sorts of rules and regulations that box
us in and limit our ability to make good decisions. If anything goes
wrong it is always the driver who is held responsible. We get the blame
for everything that goes wrong, from traffic jams to mechanical repairs
to incompetent management.
Sparks:What sort of money do you make?
KD: This is the tragic bit, the maximum any driver can make is only
about $60K-$65K in a year and that is only if you drive something like
70 hours a week almost every week of the year. So much for a 38 hour
week, the government and the RTBU have succeeded in getting each driver
to work the hours of two drivers and get paid less than two drivers
wages combined. The whole system of pay in the STA has been screwed down
so hard that we now only get a 15% loading for working a shift up to
midnight. No other public servant gets treated so badly, the loading
should be more like 30% and even then it wouldn't be enough. Drivers
should be getting a base wage of $50, 000 before our loading is taken
into account.
Sparks: What do you think about the public servants getting a 6% rise
over the next three years?
KD:I think its great, good on them. It just makes me feel like we have
missed out again, we got something like 13 or 14% when our wages are
already so low. It just looks like a good bit of collusion between the
RTBU and the government. Why is it that when we have to carry up to
fifty people through peak hour traffic, stopping every few hundred
meters, we are getting less than the desk jockeys who push pens and key
boards. Everyday we have to put up with road rage, irate passengers'
abuse and incompetent management.
Sparks: How did the RTBU handle the wage claim?
KD: They changed the ground rules on us so we could not take advantage
of the state government being torn apart over train timetable stuff ups.
There seriously never was a better time for us to start rolling
stoppages and work up to a general strike. Instead of holding mass
meetings, we were split up into small groups and denied the opportunity
to get a mass walk out organised. They never seem to come out and speak
to us. Instead we get to vote for a depot delegate and that one person
is the only union official we ever see.
Sparks: Did you vote back in the previous depot delegate?
KD: We recently voted in a new bloke I think he is Indian. He had some
trouble with depot management not so long ago and I think he sorted it
out by himself. He has been a driver for maybe 15 years, so he seems to
know what he is talking about. He was one of three or four drivers
running in the ballot, he got something like 400 votes I think. Who
knows, if he actually stands up to management and starts to push for
things at a depot level, he might actually succeed in rebuilding the
union and getting us back to the militancy that we need if we're not
going to be carved up by management.
RANDWICK DEPOT REPORT
Sparks: How was the atmosphere at Randwick over the holidays?
Randwick Driver: I can't say it was particularly good or bad this year
although it was very busy. We seemed to have more buses on the road than
usual in part I guess due to more people out shopping and a shut down of
the Eastern Suburbs railway line. The State Government uses the STA
buses to fill in the void. A number of busies added a little bit of a
festive spirit by carrying their own decorations, Santa hats and the
like, help put passengers in a more relaxed frame of mind while they are
rushing from shop to shop. STA has a fairly strict policy of not
allowing its buses to carry decorations so individual drivers find their
own creative ways to express themselves.
Sparks: So none of the STA bus fleet should be carrying decorations?
RD: Not exactly. STA allows one bus to be dressed up for Christmas and
that bus is sent out to spread the message that STA really does care.
This bus is the public face and it is designed to stand out from the
others and so grab the attention of the general public. Randwick depot
doesn't seem to have the embittered atmosphere that other depots might
have, here all the drivers get on and are reasonably friendly.
Sparks: I have heard that the STA are planning a trial of perspex
shields for drivers, have you seen any of these?
RD: Certainly I have, the shields are being trialed at Waverley with a
view to seeing how practical the perspex would be for drivers. This is a
key safety issue for us, on average, one driver is assaulted every day
in an STA bus. These assaults range from extraordinary verbal abuse from
passengers and other motorists to road rage and even very serious
physical assaults. One driver was so badly assaulted that he had to be
retired from the STA as a result of injuries he received whilst driving.
This is a very serious matter and management really had to do something
about it.
Sparks: Are the shields popular?
RD:I have only been in one bus with a shield and I thought is was OK. I
asked around to see what other drivers thought and the people I spoke
with seemed to think they were OK. A couple of teething problems like
reflection from the curve in the perspex dazzling drivers and the
propensity for the shields to scratch but other than this they seem to
be doing something to protect drivers. One chap did mention that his
line of sight was obscured by a pole holding up the shield when he
looked over to ensure it safe to close the bus doors. These are not
insurmountable problems but if the STA stays true to form these problems
are not likely to be sorted out in a hurry.
Sparks: Was the Rail Tram and Bus Union very involved in getting the
shields?
RD: I couldn't tell you, we hardly ever see them out here. In fact the
push for these protective shields came from us, the drivers not the
union bureaucrats. We have been calling for more protection for drivers
for years now. Perhaps the RTBU did do something to push the shields
along, but they didn't let us know if they did. The RTBU has become even
more of a closed shop than before. We are now not allowed to have
general meetings of members any more. The union now comes out to each
depot and holds a single meeting at that depot to vote in its policies.
Now we don't get to hear what is being said at other depots, we are all
split up so that we only get to hear the union's sales pitch and never
the opposing arguments from other depots. More and more we are treated
with contempt from STA management and indifference from the RTBU. They
have now even stopped the general discussion part of the meetings, this
was the part of the meeting that many drivers came for. It was our
opportunity to talk about things we wanted and now they've taken it
away. Its almost like they don't want us to come to the union meetings.
Sparks: I hear a new manager has been brought in what is the story here?
RD: Well, yes we now have a new depot manager, the last one only lasted
a couple of years and now he has moved on. I think this new fellow has
come from the NSW Railways no doubt he will have a plan as to how he
wants to run the show. I haven't heard that he is planning any major
changes at the depot, but then if he is, he might want to get the
measure of his senior management corps before he does. Who knows he
might be planning on getting rid of some of the deadwood up top first. I
wouldn't imagine he is planning a wholesale assault on our wages and
conditions that would more than likely be driven from head office
through their human resources manager. As the depot manager though, he
is responsible for the entire depot and I suppose its budget too. I'm
not sure how much discretion he has with the budget but not too many of
them seem to be increasing budgets its all about tightening them, these
days.
Sparks: And what advice would you have for the new manager given its
likely to be a whole new ball game for him?
RD: Well I would suggest there are two fundamental things that he has to
do as a priority if he wants the depot to run smoothly. The first is
that he has to get out onto the shop floor and listen to the drivers,
try to understand where we are coming from and what it is like to be on
the front line of a public transport service that is in crisis. Day
after day, drivers have to face an irate public, increasing traffic
congestion and hostile management. The new manager has to show that he
is prepared to listen to the people doing the job.
The other thing I believe he must do is to reward the people who are
making an effort to go above and beyond, the line of duty. It is
pointless to continually berate and harass us as a tool to get more out
of us. People are not stupid, negative reinforcement of systematic
problems will only make people shut off and stop listening, the new
manager needs to find a way to reward us when we do a good job and go
out of our way to make STA look good.
Recently Sparks spoke with Stuart Burney from Randwick Depot
Sparks: How was work for the busies, not off for the holidays?
SB: Well the depot ran to Sunday time tables with supplementation. We
had some pretty major rail hirings with lots of the city rail network
shut down for maintenance over the holidays. People still have to travel
so we were picking up the slack. I guess the government wants to get
train timetables off the front pages of the newspapers and shutting them
down is one way to do it. Most of the drivers were newer drivers and so
copped the shifts over Xmas like we all had to do. When your still new
with STA it must all seem quite novel to be driving at this time of the
year. The rest of us got to catch up on some time with our families.
Sparks: So I guess morale isn't that high at the moment
SB: Well its difficult really, isn't it public transport that has been
in the spotlight for so long now that it is wearing people out. No
matter how good a job we do, we still seem to keep copping it. Every
thing seems to be speeding up for us now. So many drivers are struggling
to keep times in peak hour traffic every day, we are supposed to operate
our buses so that at the end of each run we have ten minutes or there
abouts to get out of the bus and stretch our legs, relax after pushing
fifty passengers through grid lock and generally wind down. So many
drivers now seem to be just squeezing in before they have to change the
destination and get straight back out on the road and again push through
more grid lock. It makes you seriously wonder if the timetables aren't
now being written this way so that depot management can squeeze more and
more productivity out of us. If they do it this way, not only do they
avoid having to pay us more money for more productivity, but they can
stand over us for not meeting the obligations they have imposed on us.
Sparks: Isn't this something the RTBU should be dealing with?
SB: Of course it is, and of course it is not dealing with these
problems. I don't think I've ever seen an organiser from the RTBU out
here speaking to us about our problems, they seem to see us as an
inconvenience rather than as the heart and soul of the union. Its almost
as though they are operating in a space somewhere between management and
reality. The RTBU collects well over $1 million from bus division
members alone every year and yet we never see them out here. For heaven
sake we don't even get a union journal. Instead we are thrown a couple
of pages in a railway union journal.
Sparks: How did the RTBU leadership go in the recent elections?
SB: I'm sorry I didn't follow this too closely given its lack of
relevance to our day to day life, but I think that the current
leadership ticket got up more or less fully. Its a sad inditement that
even more union oriented drivers like myself aren't aware of who is on
the union executive. I am pretty concerned though about the level of
disclosure and accountability union delegates get away with, not many
people for instance know that depot delegates are paid an amount of
money by the RTBU for out of pocket expenses like mobile phone costs and
other incidentals. I am not suggesting this isn't legitimate, but I
really do think that the RBTU should be a lot more up front with these
things and let all the members know what is going on. I certainly know I
would and the more these things are left unsaid the more drivers become
cynical about why we aren't being told. The RTBU should be far more
open, transparent and accountable to its rank and file members, at the
moment it is just like a giant spider web with the union hierarchy
sitting in the middle pulling all the strings.
Sparks: Was the union election very eventful?
SB: I doubt most drivers paid more than a passing interest in it. One
surprise I did find was a pamphlet put out by the union hierarchy
telling members how he thought they should vote in the forthcoming
election. The pamphlet was endorsed by the RTBU Bus Division Secretary
in his capacity as Secretary. Now I'm no expert in elections but to me
that seems like a pretty clear cut case of a conflict of interest. The
most amusing part of this whole episode was the fact that the union
bosses seem to have printed up one generic pamphlet for all the depots
and distributed it far and wide.
Sparks: I have heard rumours that the depot mechanics will be told to
increase their quota of four buses a day up to seven a day, have you
about this?
SB: Well as you know we have a new CEO at Sydney Buses and he has been
appointed with no experience running a public sector transport network.
In fact we believe that he was appointed after having run West Bus for a
number of years. Now you don't have to be a genius to figure out that
when the government appoints a former private transport CEO to a public
sector agency they are keen to get the corporate business philosophy
into Sydney Buses. I guess in this respect it doesn't surprise me that
management might be trying to pick off the mechanics first, almost
doubling the workload is a pretty good way to get rid of the good
mechanics and then argue the mechanics are no good and must be out
sourced.
I have heard a rumour that senior management want to get rid of a large
number depot maintenance managers and instead reorganise things so that
they have regional maintenance managers. This too might be a ploy to
destroy our workshops and claim down the line that they are unable to do
their work and should be out sourced. Its such a shame that just when
things seem to be getting into shape, management changes. A new talking
head is installed and all of a sudden he has to make a name for himself.
Sparks: What's going on with the fare increases
SB: As far as I know this is all part of the Unsworth report into the
STA. He was appointed by the government to draw up plans for the future
of the buses and this is the first part of his strategy. There doesn't
seem to have been too much resistance to this at all, even the
newspapers were telling people how great it was that public and private
bus fares were to be equalised. One really has to wonder what the longer
term object is when you see the minor parts of the plan all sliding into
place.
Private bus drivers want a fair go
The state government is implementing minor changes to the private bus
industry without 100% guaranteeing drivers entitlements or ensuring
safety standards. We are fearful that the changes that the Government
is implementing will result in job losses and lower the safety standards
for both the driver and the passenger. Bus drivers who work for private
bus companies earn approximately $70 per week less that the bus drivers
who work for the State Government, and private bus drivers have much
worse working conditions, despite the fact that they do exactly the same
work. Private bus drivers believe they should receive the same pay and
conditions as public bus drivers. The Government provides funding to
the private bus companies so that they can provide bus services to the
western and southwestern suburbs of Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle and
the Central Coast, and other non-metropolitan areas. Along with this
the Government wants the private bus industry to run more efficiently
and provide better services, but the reality is they are not prepared to
provide the money necessary for this to happen. You know who the
long-term losers are.
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) is doing excellent job in trying to
get better conditions for private bus drivers, and if you are a private
bus driver you should contact your TWU union delegate or the state
office (9912 0700). If you are not a member, then join, if you are,
then get active and get involved in helping out with the TWU campaigns.
Darko Krizmanic is Westbus Bonnyrigg TWU Delegate. He can be contacted
via email on darko@hp.ozemail.com.au
Dublin Independent Workers Union
Are You or Have You Ever Been a Member of the Independent Workers Union
Dublin Bus Drivers Suspended for Union Organising
Four Dublin Bus drivers were suspended without pay in late July. What
did they do? Abuse passengers, steal cash, take their busses home? No,
nothing like that. Their terrible crime was to hand out leaflets telling
their fellow workers about the Independent Workers Union.
The first driver was suspended, in Phibsboro garage, when he was giving
out IWU leaflets after he had finished his day's work. Two senior
managers, Joe Kenny and Mick Matthews, arrived and ordered the driver to
go to the local manager. As he was not allowed to have his IWU
representative accompany him, he refused and was then ordered off Dublin
Bus property. Three more IWU members were also subsequently suspended.
This is an attack on all bus workers. Management is deciding which
unions will be allowed to talk to workers and which unions will not be
allowed to organise. It doesn't matter whether we think the IWU is a
good initiative or we think that workers should remain with SIPTU and
the NBRU in order to change them from the inside. The issue here is
about free speech and the right to join the union of your choice.
The Independent Workers Union was formed a couple of years ago, after a
dispute inside the ATGWU. Left wing officials Mick O'Reilly and Eugene
McGlone had been victimised for accepting the breakaway Irish Locomotive
Drivers Association into the union. They were also seen as too
responsive to their members and too supportive of workers who are
prepared to take on their employers. Although Mick and Eugene were
reinstated after a long campaign inside the ATGWU, the Cork butchers and
home helps had already decided to leave and set up a more militant
union.
The IWU is a small organisation but one which worries the more
conservative officials in many other unions. It is far more democratic,
it is opposed to 'social partnership' deals, and it stands for
traditional trade union principles. Whether it will grow significantly
remains to be seen. What is certain is that a lot of workers are
becoming dissatisfied with their unions' caution and moderation in the
face of increasing management attacks on job security and working
conditions, not to mention the small pay rises we are fobbed off with
when the economy is booming.
And some union bureaucrats are afraid that if the IWU gets organised
inside one of the bigger jobs, it might become a beacon for many of
those who are unhappy with their own organisations. That's why neither
the NBRU nor SIPTU have lifted a finger in defence of the suspended IWU
drivers. It's as if they share a common agenda with management to
control the workforce and pave the way for a smooth privatisation
(despite union conference policies opposing privatisation of public
transport!) Is it any surprise that some drivers want a new union?
by Joe King
Solidarity Messages can be sent to:
Dublin Bus Division,
Independent Workers Union,
61 North Strand Road, Dublin 3
http://www.citybus.net
NEW YORK URBAN TRANSIT WORKERS NEWS
No Layoffs! No Fare Hikes! No Service Cuts! No Facility Closings!
The Time to Fight is NOW!
The MTA (New York Urban Transit Authority Board) is mounting major
attacks on transit workers and the whole working class. Their December
16 Board meeting will vote to close 164 token booths and cut bus
services. It will also vote to raise the price of unlimited-ride
Metrocards and Metro North and LIRR fares -- barely one year after the
previous fare increase from $1.50 to $2 per ride.
They are also charging ahead with computer-based train control on the
Canarsie "L" Line and other lines, with plans to eliminate at least
4,000 transit jobs by 2008. Last month they withdrew their threat to lay
off 1,200 transit workers -- for now. But they are clearly planning to
hit us with mass layoffs in the future. We cannot afford to wait any
longer to fight back.
Toussaint Lets MTA Off Hook
Transit workers can't afford to wait for President Toussaint (of the
Transit Workers Union, TWU) to lead the fight either. The MTA signalled
these attacks years ago, and Toussaint's response was to do anything but
mobilize the power of Local 100's membership in struggle. Instead he
launched a big publicity campaign with
Taylor Law-loving politicians that hopelessly used pleas for sympathy
and attempts to shame the MTA into reversing course (but that's more
than he's done this time). Then in his sellout deal with management over
the last contract, Toussaint refused to call a strike, gave away our
no-layoff clause, made many other concessions and won nothing to stop
these attacks. That deal paved the way for these new attacks. If we
don't
stop the MTA now, their attacks will only get worse.
Toussaint has been making the rounds of Local 100 Division and
Departmental meetings urging us to come to the December 4 meeting. He
says to
plan for the December 2005 contract expiration. He says that it will be
a "hard fight." His Local 100 Express column says, "Our answer to [MTA
attacks] is Battle Stations!!" This is bluster: he and his flunkies
haven't called a single membership demonstration. They aren't suggesting
a
single concrete member action. They aren't even enforcing the contract
they "won" in 2002: the MTA bosses have not been forced to hold even
one New Technology meeting with the union leader, in spite of the fact
that the contract mandates they take place twice a year.
When TWU members and officers propose demonstrations against the MTA's
attacks, Toussaint and his flunkies have shouted them down. The only
reason they ever give for not mobilizing is that turnout would be small.
With such passive leadership, it's no wonder! As Toussaint used to say
before he became Local President, "If the membership isn't organized to
fight, it's the leaders' fault."
But Toussaint & Co are worse than passive: they are allies of the MTA.
For example, Local 100 TWU Financial Secretary-Treasurer and
Toussaint's right-hand man Ed Watt is a member of the MTA Board. There,
he
doesn't even pretend to defend us. He sometimes gently requests
information.
But mostly he sits at public MTA Board functions like a bump on a log,
or laughs and jokes with NYCT boss Larry Reuter.
A Real Plan to Fight Back
So if we transit workers are going to defend ourselves from the MTA's
attacks, we're going to have to take matters into our own hands, and
this General Membership Meeting (GMMs). GMMs are the supreme decision
making body of the union, so by majority vote, we can order Toussaint &
Co to organize the struggle we need. That's why we have joined with
other Local 100 militants to support motions (see Cuts) that will direct
Local 100 to organize a massive demonstration against the MTA and to
immediately strike if the MTA tries to layoff a single transit worker.
With a big demonstration, Local 100 members will start to feel our
power and fighting spirit again. And we can win massive public support
by defending not just our jobs, but the whole working class from fare
hikes and service cuts. This will pave the way for even bigger struggles
if the MTA doesn't back down. And by committing ourselves to immediately
strike in response to any move to layoff transit workers, we'll terrify
management and the politicians, and give the rest of the working class
an example of how to stand up to the bosses. What better way to start
our 2005 contract campaign?
Toussaint Forces in Disarray
Toussaint & Co's collaboration with and passivity toward the MTA are a
bad example for the members. Members see their union leaders making
deals with the MTA in conference rooms but rarely find them in the
field.
They see opposition elected officers on road jobs, while
pro-Toussaint'ers who lost elections are on the union payroll. They see
a third of
the pro-Toussaint officers in RTO drop out, while Toussaint resists the
new elections for those slots mandated by the Local By-Laws. Local
Executive Board meetings spend hours dealing with accusations against
Toussaint's opponents and no time planning mass defense against the
MTA's
attacks. Toussaint has turned on and dumped many of his supporters and
allies. No wonder the sense of solidarity and militancy among Local 100
members has declined since Toussaint's election.
But if the Local's membership mobilizes in big actions like the mass
demonstration we're fighting for, the sense of solidarity and fighting
spirit will come back. We can use massive pressure to force Toussaint &
Co. to organize the struggles we need. But their record of collaboration
with management shows that for as long as they're in power we'll always
be in danger of being sold out. But in the course of struggles like the
ones we're fighting for now, the most politically conscious and
militant fighters from the ranks will come to the fore and start building
a
new leadership for the Local.
Fightbacks Now Can Prepare a Strike in 2005
With the MTA and politicians planning such big attacks on us, we've got
to start preparing ourselves to strike to win during the next contract
round -- or sooner if we have to! That means taking advantage of every
opportunity to organize workers' action against any attacks by
management. For example, the Toussaint leadership failed to even organize
a
pick boycott in Stations to fight the elevator job cuts. Militant
workers
will have to join together to demand that Toussaint & Co. lead such
actions in the future. If they refuse, militants will have to take the
lead in the struggle themselves.
Welcome to another edition of Sparks.
Some of the most important news at the moment in State Transit is the
bitter fruit of the recently approved Enterprise Agreement. The most
venomous is the green light given to the STA bosses’ draconian drug and
alcohol testing. The union hierarchy has been particularly “devil may
care” and flagrantly irresponsible on this issue. As they are urging
drivers to take a sickie if they feel endangered by the testing. Whilst
details of the testing implementation are still unclear. (See article
page ) The testing procedure itself is particularly degrading ,which of
course will not affect those of the union hierarchy who agreed on the
deal. The testing also poses a serious attack on drivers’ civil
liberties, as the tests will reveal many health details to the bosses
and affect drivers’ off duty life.
Various theories abound regarding the sudden management and NSW Govt.
enthusiasm for this testing. One theory which seems plausible is that
it’s a much easier way of targeting some for the sack. Particularly
those on the old benefit based super scheme which is more expensive for
the bosses, than the newer schemes. By sacking those on this older
scheme, the bosses will both save considerable sums and “self fund” the
expensive full time testing staff and program.
Whilst the union hierarchy has shown complicity in this savage attack,
grass roots activity has been getting some effective results with the
assistance of Sparks, blunting some of its teeth. With the bosses’
recent decision to amend some of its harsh punitive aspects.
Another unfortunate fruit of the recent EBA is the approval it gives to
the establishment of a “productivity committee”. This committee’s
activity will be about helping along more speed ups and conditions
losses to assist privatisation which is endorsed by the Parry and
Unsworth reports into the bus industry, which the union hierarchy has
also given the green light.
To help organise resistance against these savage privatisation steps,
its important militant union reps who will assist grass roots action are
elected in the upcoming union elections in December. Networking amongst
the grass roots to achieve this result is a vital priority. Whilst
policies on various issues such as the equitable sharing of overtime and
creamy shifts, union meetings for all shifts, the recording of the
decisions of all union meetings, etc, could be drawn up by militants
running for the positions.
Train Drivers News
Sparks: What have been the ramifications of the recent timetable
changes?
Train Driver: We have noticed there is now no staffing shortages in
regard to drivers. With the new diagrams which we have been issued our
work has greatly been cutback and we are spending more time sitting in
stand by rooms waiting for our trains. It seems the bosses are using
these cutbacks to deliberately create work for new drivers which they
have put on the job.
Sparks: What's happening at the depots?
TD: The bosses are intending to close down Cronulla and move trains to
Waterfall, which will be refurbished and upgraded. A turn back is also
to be created at Bondi Junction. The bosses employment of 'valets' to
operate Millenniums which was reported in the press recently is becoming
a common phenomena at various depots. Waterfall's M-set is a specific
example. The Campbelltown driver's taxi fare to Waterfall is on average
about $100 every weekday, and if the Blacktown guard can't get the train
because things are late, the taxi fare is around $100 for the guard to
be transported to Waterfall as well. Because the Campbelltown driver is
not qualified for the Waterfall yard, a Central driver is used as a
'pilot' for shunting the train out of the yard to the station for
commencement of the 711 run.
Sparks: How are things on the Illawarra Line?
TD: As part of the bosses plans to introduce their Group Station Master
scheme, no new managers have been appointed at stations on this line,
with the exception of Martin Place. However, this station is to be base
of the group station master for the Eastern Suburbs Line. At Waterfall,
the station master is to be replaced with a signals grade.
Sparks: What's happening with the Enterprise Agreement negotiations?
TD: We have been told by the union hierarchy that if there is no
progress with negotiations with RailCorp management within one month,
that they will walk out of the negotiations. It's seems unlikely that
they will take any serious industrial to further our cause in the
negotiations. However, we are
likely to see more 72 hour notices of industrial action which will no
doubt be speedily withdrawn. Now that Roger Jowett has taken Bob Plain's
place as the "employee representative" on the RailCorp Board, we have
got another union official sitting on management's side. It makes a
mockery of the whole EBA situation.
Sparks: What else is happening?
TD: There were several meetings being called which are being advertised
around the traps. One meeting was held on Saturday 12/9/04 at Granville
organised by the Qld AFULE (train drivers union which never joined the
RTBU). They are wanting to recruit drivers in NSW. It seems a major
motivation for their recruiting drive is their loss of membership
associated with the privatisation of freight train services and crewing
cutbacks in Qld. It seems to me that the AFULE won't get very far unless
they are able to recruit between 300 to 400 drivers in NSW to their
ranks. Another meeting was organised by
some drivers from Mortdale who are dissatisfied with the existing RTBU
officials and seek to wage a campaign against them.
With the EBA negotiations occurring the officials are appealing for
unity amongst the ranks. I see a point there. However, I recognise that
the officials need a big shove.
Sparks: What's happening with the "security level" issue?
TD: Railcorp is now operating at 'medium' and nobody actually knows
what that means. The only effect it's had for train crews is that the
maintenance centres (and Eveleigh) are tightening security, but are only
doing it half-heartedly.
Mortdale now has a security guard 24/7 at the main street entry gate
into the staff car park, but the gate at the Mortdale station end has no
security at all (just a bi-lock on the gate). Hornsby is the same -
security at the main public street entrance but no security at the
Asquith end (again just a bi-lock on the gate). The gate out onto the
board walk adjacent to the main office at Hornsby shed has been welded
shut too since
a 24/7 contracted bus service was introduced to transport crews between
Hornsby sheds and the station.
Flemington sheds have had a call truck operating 24/7 for some time now,
but I've got no idea what sort of heightened security has been set up
there.
Sparks: I have heard that the bosses are wanting to abolish payment for
travelling time for train crews?
TD: If the bosses go ahead with this plan, they'll just face more
resistance and be compelled to make these payments perhaps by other
means. Drivers will refuse to go to foreign depots, and more sickies
will be taken as occurred earlier in the year. In the case of the
Millenniums, the bosses have been compelled to blow the budget for the
Millenniums by paying drivers' taxi fares.
The big thing with cutting out travelling time is that it will all but
eliminate the willingness of drivers or guards to accept 'foreign' depot
shifts (ie. a driver based at Central being asked to work [or rostered
to work] a Penrith shift when Penrith are short).
And it will also have a big impact on Petersham and other training
locations. We already have the stupid farce of management telling us we
cannot claim travelling time for training courses on our timesheets AS
PART OF OUR NORMAL WORKING TIME and insist that we must sign on and off
at the course location. Petersham is not a depot, and no driver or guard
is
appointed to that location, so Petersham is the same as any other
'foreign' depot and we should not be prohibited from showing full
working time including travelling to/from our home depot on the
timesheets (and be paid full overtime rates for all the time that is
over 8 hours).
Management uses this loophole frequently to manipulate the OH&S
requirements since they claim that the time off duty before the course
finishes when signing on at Petersham (or wherever the course is taking
place) and time of duty after the course starts when signing off at
Petersham (or wherever the course it taking place) and that is a serious
violation of OH&S regulations since Petersham is not, and never has
been, regarded as a 'depot' for the purpose of train crews signing on or
off ever since the college was established there.
There are often cases of classes cancelled and the attendees told that
they must work trains instead. Not only is this flaunting the OH&S
requirement of 11 hours minimum off duty before signing on AT THEIR HOME
DEPOT (not Petersham!), but management try to force us to carry all our
normal train
working equipment (including timetables, safe working manuals, etc.) to
training courses and there is no requirement of any sort saying that we
have to take anything except what is needed for the course and any
necessary personal protective and safety equipment (ie. safety vest if
the course is at Eveleigh or North Sydney).
Rail News
Sparks: What’s happening with “security” in the railways?
Station Assistant: The major change has been the removal of Chubb
security guards from trains and stations and their replacement by the
new transit officers. The introduction of the transit officers has led
to a decline in passenger and staff security. When transit officer
shifts change at stations, completely new crews come on duty at
stations. Consequently they lack a continuity of knowledge of local
problems. Whilst their radio frequencies are quite different from those
of station staff. Station managers have no control over the transit
officers who are responsible to higher management, undermining the
responsibilities of the SM job. A not so hidden agenda of the transit
officers is to monitor station staff, as when they are called in over an
incident, they report on what local station staff having been doing. The
transit officers are also being used to cut out the jobs of ticket
inspectors. Latest news is that management is intending to employ 3,000
transit officers which will amount to the same number of Chubb security
guards which patrolled trains and stations. Undercover security officers
also patrol railway property, however their role seems more about
raising revenue. In contrast security guards who wear a uniform play
more a deterrent role.
Sparks: What’s happening at Central?
SA: We have been pleasantly surprised with the departure of our previous
big boss who had an alarming attachment to goose stepping around in
shiny new 3rd Reich jackboots to the Bankstown area. He’s received no
rise in pay with the transfer and so it seems he was given a shove by
senior management. The new boss seems more understanding of staff
concerns. Another big boss who has departed the scene is Frank Miller.
The delegates which comprise the union committee at the station seem to
just focus on little issues. The big menacing issues seem beyond their
concern. If you are facing disciplinary action its often possible to
sort it out with your duty manager.
Central and other stations are continuing to be hit by privatisation by
stealth via the out sourcing of our work. The latest group to be
affected is the small CityRail plumbing crew. This crew has existed for
the last 20 years and has much local knowledge. Its disbanding and
replacement by private contractors will no doubt contribute to the
worsening of plumbing problems at Central and other stations.
Sparks: What’s the latest with the cleaners at Central?
SA: Recently there was a closed staff meeting held for cleaning staff at
the station. Intriguingly supervisors were left out of the gathering. It
seems the meeting was related to the bosses’ plan to remove cleaners
from stations. The union hierarchy has also attended gatherings with the
cleaners. Prospects for the cleaners are still not clear at the moment.
Sparks: What’s happening generally in the City Rail station network?
SA: We are now seeing the introduction of C.S.M. (Customer Service
Management) phase 3 being introduced. It involves the steady chipping
away on the role of station managers at the smaller stations. Station
managers are only staffing these stations from Monday to Friday. During
the weekends, they are being replaced by lower grades such as duty
managers. The lack of this experienced staff on weekends particularly in
the case of emergencies, must lead to a decline in service to commuters.
In the case of booking clerks, they are having targets for ticket sales
per shift imposed upon them. If the targets aren’t met, the booking
offices will be closed and commuters will have to use the ticket
machines. The union hierarchy’s typical attitude is to “negotiate” on
C.S.M. Whilst, the union hierarchy has stated it has not agreed on
C.S.M., it won’t take any industrial action to oppose management’s moves
to implement various aspects of C.S.M. on the job.
Redfern News
At Redfern, one fine day a speeding station manager had a “collision”
with a duty manager resulting in a “derailment” and much carnage.
Consequently this station manager has been shunted off, reprimanded and
replaced in his job. Staff at Redfern are concerned that Aboriginal
staff have been taken off security jobs and have been placed on
Aboriginal Liaison Officer jobs. Redfern staff are particularly
concerned that this change will contribute to declining safety at the
station.
Sparks: What’s happening with the enterprise agreement negotiations?
SA: It seems that due to so many other unions some of which have a more
militant attitude are party to the negotiations, there has been no deal
adopted as yet. If, the negotiations had just involved the RTBU (Rail
Tram & Bus Union) hierarchy, the deal, no matter the adverse content
would have been signed off by now. The RTBU hierarchy has avoided
calling for any hard hitting action over the EBA issue which would put
pressure on the Carr Govt. Instead it has resorted to such lame duck
measures as badges and stickers, which perhaps slightly irritate
management, but have no effect on our ultimate boss - the Carr Govt.
One dubious demand of the RTBU hierarchy in their EBA claim is for
management to pay $50 a year toward gym membership fees for staff so as
to assist with the problem, some staff have with fitness. This demand is
just paying lip service to the problem. It fails to take into account
the tiredness and fatigue many face from the job which discourages gym
attendance off the job. A more effective demand would be time off for
staff to attend gyms and the construction of gyms on site.
Sparks: What happened at the combined rail unions rally at Belmore Park
on Thurs. Sept. 16th?
SA: There were only a couple of hundred from across the railways who
attended the meeting. At Central, and other locations it was poorly
advertised. Senior management such as Vince Graham couldn’t be bothered
to attend the gathering to hear the views of the unions or the grass
roots. It’s ironic that Vince Graham was willing to defend staff at the
Waterfall Inquiry, but won’t assist the improvement of staff conditions.
Our R.T.B.U. organiser was particularly lethargic on issue. He appeared
to be curled up awaiting instructions from the union hierarchy, rather
than getting up on his hind legs and agitating to get people along to
the meeting. Where he could seize the opportunity to do some networking
to help us win a decent pay rise. Those best informed about the meeting
were A.S.U. (Australian Services Union) members who are office workers
and have access to electronic mail and associated advertising for the
event.
An A4 newsletter was issued by the Combined Rail Unions criticising
Costa for bias on the pay rise issue. Various shabby tactics which
management is using to delay our pay rise were listed on the leaflet. It
seems likely due to the pussy footing and delaying tactics by Costa on
the enterprise agreement that a strike will be called by the combined
unions affecting the railways and perhaps other industries. The unions
are demanding 6% per year over a 3 year period. Costa is only offering
3% per year. Whilst, he also wants to review the content of previous
enterprise agreements to weed out aspects he doesn’t like.
Sparks: What other meetings have been held?
SA: The ALP Left Faction held a meeting at Granville RSL in recent
weeks. However, this meeting was also poorly advertised
Sparks: What’s the latest with the train crews?
SA: Some important news is that a hundred train drivers in RailCorp have
become fed up with the job due to targeting and harassment from the
bosses and the media, and are leaving. They are taking up jobs in the
private sector, where they will be much better paid with less
responsibilities.
Sparks: What’s happening with country stations?
SA: They have been taken over by A.R.T.C. a Federal Govt. authority.
Many staff are concerned that many of the artefacts at the older
stations such as clocks which are heritage and have a great symbolic
value to staff will be sold off.
Sparks: What developments are occurring with senior management?
SA: Vince Graham, the RailCorp CEO who recently came out in defence of
staff, is rumoured will soon leave the job.
Sparks: What are your thoughts on ramifications of the corporatisation
of the State Rail Authority to form RailCorp?
SA: Before the corporatisation of the SRA occurred, the union hierarchy
said that a likely implication would be the abolition of the TAB
(Transport Appeals Board). Union delegates can appear before the TAB on
disciplinary issues. However, with the abolition of the TAB, we were
warned that private solicitors/barristers would have to be hired by the
union to defend workers. It seems to me that the TAB will continue to
exist in some form, as the union will be unable to finance a large flock
of legal eagles. The union hierarchy is likely to exert major pressure
in negotiations with management on this matter to get some compromise.
Sparks: What’s the news on the Drug & Alcohol Testing issue?
SA: The new draconian drug and alcohol testing policy of the railways
bosses seems to me, a measure of social control aimed at intimidating
workers. There is also an important question of the confidentiality of
railways doctors in regard to this testing and staff drug and alcohol
use. In a recent case a worker revealed to a railways doctor that he
used a certain drug. The worker believed that confidentiality provisions
applied. However, the Doctor subsequently revealed this information to
Drug/Alcohol testing officers which resulted in the worker being
targeted for testing.
Waverley Busies News
Sparks: What’s happening with the Drug & Alcohol Testing issue?
Waverley Busie: There has been an interesting and some what positive
development on the issue. I’ve heard a whisper that the State Transit
bosses have taken on board certain criticisms of their policy made in
the last edition of Sparks. They have made a slight U-turn and are
willing to now allow drivers who are caught up in their testing trip
wires to take up the option of rehabilitation. They will be very
generously be allowed to take their long service leave for this purpose.
Whilst confidentiality would be maintained. A victory for common sense
has occurred.
Sparks: What’s the outlook for the CSC’s (Customer Service
Coordinators)?
WB: As a result of the Enterprise Bargain Agreement being approved, this
position will be abolished. Those doing this job will be reduced in
grade to drivers again. The removal of the CSC position and the
reduction in the number of inspectors will remove a career structure
which existed for those who aspired in this direction. Many of them were
attached to these jobs and should have been better looked after. They
have played a helpful role in controlling passengers on buses and have
helped counter passenger aggression in their own words.
Sparks: What’s happening with the overloading of buses?
WB: This remains a chronic problem amongst many drivers, which the
bosses are turning a blind eye regarding. This is a critical
Occupational Health & Safety issue, which they are throwing out the
window. Overloading can be an important contribution to serious
accidents. However, bizarrely the bosses are screaming blue murder over
drugs and alcohol related safety issues! A driver assessor could step on
the bus where the problem is occurring and talk with the driver, if a
break down in procedures is occurring. A general problem is the packing
of passengers into the front near the dash of buses. Drivers need to get
out of their comfort zones and ensure that there are only 15 passengers
or so standing and standing passengers are widely distributed in the
bus.
Sparks: How do you think this problem can be tackled?
WB: Currently, I’m doing a communications course as part of a Leadership
Development Program, it focuses on the positive role which teams can
play in the workplace. An idea I’ve come up with from my studies is the
establishment of Teams composed of drivers on various shifts and runs
who could raise awareness amongst themselves when they observe unsafe
practices such as bus overloading. The members of these teams would not
“dob in” each other to the bosses or bully each other. However they
would provide some helpful ideas on the issue. Members of each team
would perform different roles and obtain a sense of responsibility and
purpose. There would be no hierarchy in these teams, although no doubt
those who take a more energetic role would act as informal leaders.
Everybody would be helping each other to become accountable to everyone
else on the issue. Is there anyone ready to put this idea into action?
Sparks: What’s the latest with the Revenue Inspectors?
WB: In a recent incident a driver was jumped on and persecuted over an
honest mistake involving the issuing of a $3.50 ticket. This is not
“Stasiland” - like East Germany. Account must be taken of human errors
which can occur. Particularly in beach front suburbs like Bondi, with
huge swarms of people, checking is sometimes very difficult and
complicated. It can overwhelm people. Certainly, the making of some
minor error should not be an excuse to harass someone.
Sparks: How are the mechanics faring?
WB: To amuse themselves and score a few childish points against the
mechanics due to their recent strike action, the bosses have embarked on
a game of “cat and mouse”. As part of this game, they recently “invaded”
rooms in the workshops area and without any consultation, threw the
common property used in the meal room into a nearby waste disposal bin.
These belongings consisting of assorted kitchenware had been handed down
for 12-15 years. In this way, the bosses were trying to restrict the
mechanics use of the main meal room and infringe on their work space. It
seems the bosses were engaging in a turf war. Us humans are so incapable
of working at problems and resolving them collectively.
Sparks: What are your thoughts about the bus stop in Bronte Rd Bondi
Junction near Westfields and the Tea Gardens Hotel?
WB: Its too short and can’t cope with our buses. This is an obvious
example of how the bosses are not consulting with us.
Sparks: What’s happening with the Bondi Juction Mall?
WB: There are a lot of problems with the road going through the Mall and
its surrounds. The road is very narrow with no space for parking buses.
There is no traffic management in the mall area, arrows or posters to
provide directions. The extremely dangerous situation created by these
deficiencies was graphically illustrated the other day. When I observed
a pedestrian being nearly run over when he stepped out in front of a bus
and shortly afterwards narrowly escaping being hit by two push bikes.
This is quite a disturbing situation given it’s the busiest bus
interchange in the world. It seems that the powers that be have laid it
all on for Westfields. We, humans are not taken into account in regard
to such issues as safety. There appears to be no intervention by the RTA
to resolve the chaos. The whole interchange must be redesigned to make
it more bus friendly. The Mall gives the impression of a design from
older times and fails to take into account the enormous bus traffic in
the area. Recently, bans were imposed on the Mall bus stops due to the
safety issue by the unanimous vote of a union meeting at Waverley. The
bosses have brazenly shown their lack of integrity and accountability to
the grass roots on the job with their failure yet again to consult with
us on the Mall issues. There are at least 500 drivers involved with bus
operations in the Mall who have a wealth of knowledge. Why haven’t the
bosses asked for our opinions and strategies and accepted our
criticisms?
Sparks: What’s happening with John Laws?
WB: Recently, his Bentley Continental GT number plate JL/LO was spotted
illegally parked in a bus stop outside Darley’s Restaurant by a CSC on a
389. “His Greatness” was apparently dinning on lobster whilst his
chauffer at a wage of $19 per hour was protecting his car. Here was a
golden opportunity for the STA to gain some revenue and make his
“Greatness” lunch much more expensive, with the imposing of a hefty $95
fine! It would no doubt also give “His Greatness” something to squeal
about on his radio program. With the abolition of the CSC job,
opportunities to make our life easier will be lost.
Sparks: What are your views on Transport Minister Costa’s decision to
savagely cut back weekend rail services?
WB: Recently, one Saturday I had to wait at Town Hall ofr half an hour
for a train to Bondi Junction. Before the service cut backs, normally
the most you would have to wait was 10 minutes. This delay was
contributed by a lack of trains on the Eastern Suburbs line and people
running through the tunnel at Kings Cross. This latest incident has
highlighted to me that these cutbacks are part of a deliberate plan to
wreck public transport. The cutbacks will encourage much more car usage
and particularly expand motorists usage of roadway tunnels in the city
earning much more revenue for the Govt’s business mates.
Sparks: What are your thoughts on the federal elections?
WB: The major parties appear to be very tied up with the interests of
Big Business. The grass roots in the ALP need to work to curtail these
connections and associated rightwing agendas. Parties such as the Greens
certainly have a progressive role in the Upper House of Parliament in
restricting the full implementation of pro-Big Business plans of which
ever major party is successful in the election.
Sparks: Is there other news?
WB: Upstairs at the depot a 40 minute video about the 9/11 conspiracy is
available on line via the computers. It particularly shows how the
population of the US has been misinformed.
Leichhardt Busies News
Sparks: What’s happening with the bosses?
Leichhardt Busie: We’ve got a new depot manager. He’s quite excited
about his shiny new pair of jack boots. He’s quite a hardliner and wants
to be seen doing his job. His new unsafe practices policy implementation
is quite draconian. Following a verbal warning, then a written warning,
you can be issued with a $100 fine for a further “unsafe incident”.
Where exactly is this fine money to be spent? Lately Rod Taylor has
taken over from the new boss for a few weeks. He has metal in his leg.
Will he also have metal in his heart? Other news is the departure of the
STA CEO John Stott to head the new smart card ticketing project. His
successor in the top STA job ominously has background in the private
sector bus industry.
Sparks: What’s happening at the depot?
LB: There is a laziness by management in regard to various issues. There
is a continuing problem with smokers. Smokers were to be provided with
an area in the far end of the depot. Furniture has even been acquired
for it. However, the space has not been formally designated.
Consequently, smokers have to hang around in the area between the
toilets and the canteen, which intrudes on non-smokers going to these
facilities. There is a very serious problem with the shed drivers. The
buses are being left all over the road. When you want to see one of
them, they are often to be found smoking on the balcony. In regard to
the Leichhardt spokeswoman, we were suddenly notified in Transit Times,
that someone who is unknown to most of us, by the name of Lucia had been
given the job. Any activism by herself in this position with regard to
grassroots concerns is unknown to us. There are moves afoot to launch a
petition to declare no confidence with her. There is also a lack of
tampons in the ladies toilet, even at railway stations there is such a
provision, but not at Leichhardt Depot.
“A Union Rep Too Many”
Sparks: What’s happening with the union rep?
LB: There have been some worrying incidents with him. Recently, he was
booking up buses leaving the depot, checking every one. The only effects
of his action appear to be to delay various runs and the likelihood of
the mechanics being put offside with us. One 610 was made 15 minutes
late to Lilyfield by this exercise in “union dynamism” . In regard to
the enterprise agreement, the rep sought to quell disgruntlement with
the meagre pay rise, by arguing that if we didn’t accept the offer of
5.1%, 4%, 4%, the bosses would return to their original offer of 3%. He
appeared to have had no intention of pushing for strike action which
would have delivered a much better pay rise. Some of the older drivers
were pleased with the $900 back pay. However, with a bit of serious
industrial effort we could have won $1500! Its urgent that we organise
to elect a replacement in the union rep position who more adequately
assists grass roots concerns, in the upcoming union rep elections in
December. Those militants and their supporters who run against the rep
could come to some compromise regarding who becomes the rep and vice
reps and we could establish a bloc of votes for the militant candidate
based on common policies.
Sparks: What’s happening with the schedulers?
LB: They seem to have no idea of run problems. In regard to the weekend
shifts, they have savagely cut running times. One shift is composed of
six 470’s with only 5 minutes turn around time and with no toilet at the
Lilyfield terminus. In regard to the 440’s, the terminus at Rozelle, is
also lacking a toilet. Whilst, the turn around situation for the 430’s
at Walshe Bay is the worst of all.
Sparks: What’s the bosses’ attitude to commuter comments?
LB: Their latest trick is that at several depots, commuters who make
comments about services are being rewarded with free tickets and even
cash over a 3 day period!
Sparks: What’s happening at Ryde?
LB: A driver at the depot is facing the sack due to factors beyond his
control. It’s been the 3rd time he’s been late for work due to delays
caused by catching public transport. In the latest incident causing his
suspension, he had been 20 minutes late to work due to public transport
delays.
Sparks: What’s happening at Waverley?
LB: I’ve heard on the grapevine that recently 25 drivers walked off the
job and resigned en masse, following the sighting of a drug testing team
at the depot.
Sparks: What are some of the ramifications of the approval of the
enterprise agreement?
LB: With the passing of the EBA, the Customer Service Coordinator jobs
will be abolished. As a result, there will only be 22 transit police to
do all Sydney Buses.
Sparks: What’s the situation with bosses’ new draconian drug & alcohol
testing policy?
LB: There is certainly a case for testing to avoid some drivers
operating buses under the influence of alcohol for obvious reasons. I’m
particularly angry over drug testing and its implications. It seems to
be quite a civil liberties issue as our off duty recreational activities
are being severely interfered with. With the forewarning of the upcoming
drug testing many have had to radically curb their recreational drug
use, as you may still show positive to certain drugs days after its
initial use for some time. However, given the cost to the bosses of $600
for a test to be conducted I can’t see much of it happening. Perhaps
only a percentage will be tested. Whilst those identified with some
subcultures may also be targeted.
Sparks spoke with David Carpenter recently on the dissatisfaction with
STA and the RTBU(Rail Tram & Bus Union) hierarchy.
Sparks: Tell us about yourself.
DC: Well I've been working as a bus driver now for five years, initially
out of Waverley depot but now I am driving out of Randwick. I'm in my
fifties and got my first job as a Jackeroo at 16, I worked doing this
for about 3 years then spent another 3 years in Agricultural College.
Had 2 years in the army (Australian) then I got a job with Elders
selling farm equipment out in the bush. Spent 25 years doing that
working all the way up to National sales manager then I was retrenched.
Sparks: So why the interest in the union?
DC: Well I suppose I looked at them and thought I could do that only I
could do it better. I had never belonged to a union until I joined the
RTBU so you couldn't really say I am going to turn the world upside
down. I had always had a sort of special position whereby I sold the
goods and the big boss was happy, I had never felt Like I was on the
pointy end of work. That is until I joined the STA and finally
understood how important, no vital it is to have a strong and democratic
union.
Sparks: So you think that the RTBU is democratic?
DC: No I don't, but seeing how undemocratic they are made me understand
how important the democratic side of unionism is. Lots of people working
for STA don't speak English very good, so if its hard for me to
understand what the RTBU is doing it must be that much harder for non
English speakers to understand. Lets face it if a union can't
communicate clearly and effectively with its members why would they stop
work and not get paid, possibly even get sacked. Having said that I
think that the recent wage agreement wasn't too bad - I’ll give credit
where its due. Although the agreement on random drug and alcohol testing
may be used against us in the future.
Sparks: How would you change things?
DC: Well for a start I would begin to rebuild the members trust in their
union. I would see to it that all members of the union had an
opportunity to know what was going on and a place to express their
opinions about it. At present minutes
aren't even taken at meetings, they are not kept to record what happened
and they certainly aren't available to members. I don't know if this is
incompetence or if it is duplicity on the part of the union bosses but
it certainly undermines their credibility.
Sparks: What do you think are the big issues for us in the future?
DC: Well it has to be privatisation doesn't it. The NSW government have
said they want to privatise STA in the Unsworth Report. You would have
to be deaf and blind or just plain stupid to not know that by now. It
doesn't make it OK that the RTBU has accepted privatisation as
inevitable and try to get the best deal for us. The only people who want
it privatised are the politicians and the filthy rich who will buy it.
The public, STA employees and everyone who relies on public transport
will suffer. Ask the people in Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne. In England
the USA and NZ all these people have had their public transport
privatised and all agree it has force service cuts, wage cuts and price
increases to fund annual profits increases for its new owners.
Sparks: So what would you do?
DC: Well if the RTBU can't get the Labor Government to rule it out, how
the hell will they get the conservatives to. The answer to educate
people inside and outside STA about privatisation. We have to build
resistance to privatisation. That means holding meetings, providing
information and resources to fight against privatisation. Why aren't all
of our union dues going into building the fight against this stupid
idea, if we can't fight to protect our jobs then why are paying union
dues?
Randwick Busies News
Sparks: What do you think about the Drug and Alcohol protocol?
Randwick Driver: It’s a joke, it was supposed to be implemented on
September 1st this year and most drivers still don't have a clear
understanding of it. Management have changed their minds about
the detail of the protocol a number of times and the only thing that
they are sticking with is the fact that this is a system that will allow
management the ability to sack drivers with the support of the RTBU.
Sparks: It doesn't sound like they thought this one through too well.
Randwick Driver: I don't think STA even wanted it, it was forced on them
by legislation and they seem to be struggling to figure out what it
actually means.
This whole thing has turned into a bunfight. After the protocol has been
in place for more than a month we still don't know what is or isn't
acceptable or in which quantities. We are told that it will be random,
but only at the end of a driver's shift and that drivers will have to
wait around after the end of shift so that we can be tested.
Sparks: What do you mean?
Randwick Driver: Well management still haven't put together a definitive
document that tells us which medications and in which quantities are
acceptable. If I take a Panadine Forte for a headache, some sort of
medication for blood pressure or a multitude of other legitimate
medications I may be pined for it and face the sack. All sorts of people
in society take medicine and yet because of management incompetence, we
will be punished if the medicine is derived from a banned substance.
Codeine for instance is used commonly in cold and flu tablets, but may
show a false positive in urine testing.
Drivers are constantly in contact with members of the public, we get
coughed on, sneezed on and bombarded with whatever sort of germs and
viruses are doing the rounds.
Sparks: What are the RTBU saying?
Randwick Driver: Well they are telling us to take sickles if we feel
that we might get nailed for medication. That's all well
and good but they should never have agreed to the random drug and
alcohol testing in the first place if they weren't satisfied with it.
The situation we are in now has come about because the RTBU and
management agreed on a random drug and alcohol testing clause in our
last award with all its punitive consequences for drivers but still
haven't agreed on the details. Neither management nor the RTBU are
prepared to put it in writing so drivers are left in limbo.
Sparks: Will management be subjected to random testing?
Randwick Driver: Well... we are told that random tests will apply to
every STA employee but front-line people like drivers will be the main
focus. It all seems to be getting driven by the reactionaries in the
state parliament jumping to the tune of the shock jock radio announcers.
Earlier this year a passenger complained that a bus driver on the north
side was drunk so management chased him down, dragged him off his bus
and hauled him back to the depot, he was tested at the end of his shift
and given the all clear!
Sparks: What do you think of the politicians and their $1.20 middies
in the Parliament House bar?
Randwick Driver: If anyone should be getting random drug and alcohol
testing it is the politicians. They are the ones who need clear minds,
the decisions these people make can cost us millions of dollars. Earlier
this year the leader of the "Democrats" party was all over the
television news drunkenly groping another politician. Politicians
already have a difficult time trying to deal with their egos, add drugs
or alcohol and they are really up against it.
Sparks: What do you think will be the eventual outcome with random drug
and alcohol testing?
Randwick Driver: I think that this protocol will be used to get rid of
drivers who have been around for a while and know what management have
been and are up to. Now that the RTBU and management have overseen a
system whereby newer drivers are given less sick leave, lower
superannuation contributions and no long service leave until ten years,
older drivers cost STA more money.
I think that over time this protocol will end up being used as a
mechanism that management may use to get rid of drivers who don't toe
the line. If a driver declares that he/she is using medication for
arthritis and years later puts in a worker's compensation claim for a
neck/back/shoulder injury the claim may be knocked back because
management say the injury was pre existing.
The real problem with this protocol is the fact that in all the time I
have spent working for STA I have never once heard of an accident that
was caused by drugs or alcohol. Its a beat up and will once again be
used to put more pressure and stress on drivers so that management are
able to get away with new ways to make us a more compliant and passive
workforce.
Brookvale Depot News, Opinion & Other Side of the Story !
Sparks - A new EBA was overwhelmingly accepted by the Members. What are
your opinions on this?
Amigo - Yes, that is true the new EBA was accepted by about 85% of the
Members. That’s a feather in the STA Union officials’ cap I suppose.
Many people I spoke to said it was one of the best EBA’S delivered.
Sparks - Tell us about some of the positives and negatives for you in
the EBA.
Amigo - For me there were big negatives because it was really another
status-quo agreement which puts Workers in a different, lower category
than others groups eg. investors, CEO, owners etc. The agreement awarded
a fixed salary for the next 3 years or so together with some negative
positive conditional EBA clauses, but the question is will our
production be fixed for the next three years? Will prices be fixed for
the next three years? Of course not. I feel the agreement should have in
it performance targets because we are a growing industry with lots of
natural demand. As the city grows our service in wanted more and more
and we should benefit from this in terms of productivity bonuses etc.
Sparks - Did the EBA address in-equalities in the system eg. CEO ‘s
getting pay rises in excess of 10 times that of their Workers? Or some
people in the Railways getting bonuses for overtime working whilst Bus
Drivers who work lots of overtime get nothing? Or were the roster
in-equalities fixed whereby Drivers rosters were tricked into changing
to 6 day rosters whilst, cleaners, railways, inspectors etc all remained
on 7 day rosters? Staff buses some depots have them some walk home in
the dark. Ferry workers get taxis.
Amigo - No, regrettably those in-equalities remain, but it’s important
to note that the Membership regardless, voted in the new EBA with a big
yes!
Sparks - You mention 6 and 7-day rosters. Why were Drivers tricked long
time ago to accept a 6-day roster?
This goes back to Mr. Greiner’s days when they wanted to make lots of
Drivers redundant. In making Drivers redundant this left holes in the
timetables eg. not enough Drivers to cover the timetables so what they
did was they took Sunday out of the roster and replaced it with another,
normal paying day. In this way they were getting to cover the work of
those made redundant cheaply, other wise if they had not changed the
roster and Sunday remained in the roster, the other day worked to cover
the time tables would have been at DOC rates. In effect, Drivers average
hourly rate was reduced big time!
Sparks - It sounds like a really big downgrading trick was played on
Drivers, but it’s not clear. Can you give us an example to make it
clearer?
Amigo - Ok. Lets assume a Cleaner is on $18 per hour and on a 7-day
roster. At the same time let’s assume that a Driver is on $19 per hour
and on a 6 days roster. The big difference is that a Cleaner can work
just four days plus a Sunday, where a Driver cannot. A Driver must work
5 normal days before he can qualify to work a Sunday. Also, because a
Cleaner is on a 7 day roster he/she has greater DOC overtime opportunity
eg. if a Cleaner works Mon to Thur eg. 4 days plus a Sunday that makes 4
days at normal pay plus a Sunday at double time, that leaves 2 days for
a chance at DOC. A Driver cannot work 4 days plus a Sunday a Driver must
work 5 days plus a Sunday leaving only one day for a chance at DOC.
Sparks - Can you also give us an example in figures?
Amigo - Yes. Say a Cleaners works Mon-Thursday plus a Sunday, 8 hours on
each day. This would be 32 hours at $18 per hour giving $576. Add to
this the Sunday, 8 hours at double time eg. 8 hours at $36 (8x36=$288)
gives total of $864 for 40 per week. This is an average of $21.60 per
hour ($864 Divided by 40 hours = $21.60).
Don’t forget that a Driver cannot work 4 days plus a Sunday like a
Cleaner can, so on many weeks a Driver will work Mon to Fri eg. 40 hours
this would give the Driver 40 x $19 = $760. So what’s the average per
hour for a Driver in this example? It’s obviously $760 divided by 40
hours worked ie. $19 per hour. SO IT CAN BE CLEARLY SEEN IN THE EXAMPLE
ABOVE THAT BECAUSE DRIVERS ARE ON A 6 DAY ROSTER DRIVERS AVERAGE PAY IS
LESS THAN THE AVERAGE PAY OF CLEANERS!
Sparks - Now tell us some of the positives the EBA achieved.
Amigo - Yes, I will acknowledge some of the positives but in conclusion
I still have to say that I feel that the negatives still override the
positives in a big way. The positives are as follows:
a) Daily long service leave - LSL can be taken on a daily basis instead
of a weekly basis see clause 22 of eba. b) Leave for personal or family
needs, see clause 28 eba - This could be an important positive as it
gives Drivers the option of taking time off work. This could compensate
for example for working on public holidays and much other overtime so
missing out on family life. Also, as an interesting bi-product time off
could mean more chances of a DOC paid at double time. Don’t forget for
each day off the STA must find someone to cover the timetables and as
they have no spares or full staff, they have to cover it by DOC. I feel
that every Driver in STA should avail themselves of this opportunity to
create more DOC’S. If one did not avail themselves of this opportunity I
feel they will be working for flat money instead of a DOC. Why not think
about it?
Sparks - What are some of the criteria you feel made the Members vote
with a big yes to the new EBA?
Amigo - I think some of the reasons are as follows a) Starved Out - The
settlement came very late, about 8 months late so Drivers really needed
the money to make ends meet, especially the back pay b) Dislike of
Industrial Action - Bus Drivers do not like strike action and were not
given more soft options of better condition campaigning. C) Dragging out
and extending the lengths of eba’s to favour management - Evidence of
this is again in the current EBA for example it says ‘the nominal expiry
date of this agreement will be 11 June 2007’. This would mean to me that
the eba is not for just 3 years but for 3 and a half years eg. from Jan
2004 where our back pay and eba began to June 2007 that makes three and
a half years does it not?
Sparks - We understand there is an in transit-cleaning problem. What is
that?
Amigo - Well, I feel for years the Management have failed to address the
in Transit cleaning issue. You see due to hard working depot cleaners
the buses leave early in the morning clean. As I understand it the
problem arises that the STA only employees enough cleaners to clean the
buses only once in 24 hours only in readiness for early morning
departure. This is ridiculous to say the least as buses get rubbished
whilst in service. Also, it appears that the STA does not pay inspectors
to inspect the buses which come in the shed (or in transit) dirty, so as
a consequence buses are booked out to the evening shifts in a dirty
condition.
Sparks - What do you feel should be done about this to fix the problem?
Amigo - The obvious answer is to have mobile cleaning gangs to provide a
clean trip for our customers. I mean if management really cared about
our customers surely they would not want them sitting in rubbish of
discarded sandwiches, bottles, papers etc. In central places like
Wynyard, Chatswood etc there should be Cleaners around to respond on as
per need basis. Management simply must do something and comply with
hygiene and health regulations etc. Apart from giving us bad name in the
eyes of our customers it also reflect badly on Drivers as some customers
wrongly feel that Drivers are being paid to clean the bus, which is not
the case.
Sparks - This is a big issue of hygiene and obviously you are very upset
by it. Can you not radio in for a changeover?
Amigo - Not really it does not work. Even if you are lucky and the radio
works and you get through to a radio operator, it takes lots of time to
get a change over and by then customers timetables are severely
disrupted. Almost on every trip when I inspect the bus I find some
rubbish which should not really be there for the next trip. It’s up to
Management to do their job surely? I mean I have to do my bit, I come to
work clean and showered etc why should I have to work in a rubbish
environment and expose fare paying passengers to it?
violence,violence,violence,western style,selective,memory
Continued from Last Edition
About the Writer:
Paul Rockwell ( rockyspad@hotmail.com) is a writer who lives in Oakland.
add your comments [and remember, there is 130,000 U.S. soldiers in iraq]
selective memory, is trained into the American people by the selective
media,by not publishing or broadcasting both sides of a story,
truthfully, in
a unbiased way,you have selective media, and a picture of history, that
is, selective, by making out that America is the land of the free, and
democratic, and, law abiding, and having continual references to these
ideals, in the American film and television industry. How many films
have you seen that attack, past and present, corrupt administrations,eg
Watergate,the Kennedy
assassination, the attack on the U.S.S. Liberty, the training, and
funding of Osama Bin Laden,the supply of wmds,and biological weapons to
saddam,etc,etc,the truth is.....none, because the American media is
owned, and run, to be
selective,have you noticed that our Australian film industry,is always
in trouble,and all our directors,actors and crews,all end up in the
.U.S.speaking in American accents, and telling stories about ,how
wonderful America is,and lets not forget, powerful, did you know, that
Australia, was the first country to start movie making?,on mass? Guess
who came and bought it up,? Have a look at the English film industry,in
fact, any, English speaking film industry, you
will find the same pattern, controlled by U.S. CORPS, yep, completely,
dominating the world market,the image of the”just and right America”,and
lets
not forget, the “powerful America”, American people, actually think
their
country,is, ''the land of the free'', when in reality, it is not,
in America now, you have massive misrepresentation of minorities in
prison, blatant racism, the “patriot act”, has taken out all the
fundamental rights of the citizen,under the guise of .....”Home
Defense”.
Oh,the only person to speak up against the Iraq invasion in
Congress was a woman, a black woman, a democrat. All the non tendering
companies that are now, ”rebuilding”, Iraq, after 12 years of
''precision bombing'',[that wasn’t reported in the press],are
American,.....you might say that the .U.S. has the right, because it has
“taken all the risks”, those risks, are breaking both international law,
U.S. law, the Geneva convention, and now, with the torture of innocent
people in U.S. run prisons, basic human rights, the patriot act, has now
taken all rights away from the American citizen, in the name of
“terrorism”, now the Iraqis, are being treated to the “patriot act”,
Iraq style, inexcusable, especially when, children and women, innocents
are killed, or in
this case manslaughter, or, child slaughter, yes,
children,maimed,mutilated,ambulances fired on, massive human rites
abuses everyday,on the Iraqi people,the only reason this, torturing,
''came
to light'',is after the Red Cross,Amnesty International, over a period
of
over 2 YEARS,had complained, consistently,to the highest levels in the
U.S.admin about the continual, abuse,was when a soldier,slipped some
photos under a door, to an army investigating team, now, the selective
process,also,aplies,to race,by only reporting on Caucasian,or western
deaths, in detail,other cultures,become,sub-human,not important,and by
treating these cultures as primitive,stereotypes,as in the American
“Indian”, we see them as a culture that needs to be “saved”, as in
“christianised”, this is happening in Australia,with the “aboriginal”,
this term is blatantly racist, it is a generic term for ANY indigenous,
tribe or culture from a certain country,the native people of oz, don’t
even have a name,that gives them identity,
the same is applied to the “american indian”,”south american indian”,
the “indians” in asia,and the “indians” in other countries, and more
selective reporting, over 500,000,children dying, from, U.S and UN,
sanctions, in Iraq,[amnesty],imagine if 500,000 Australian kids had died
from sanctions in 12 years, what would the papers say...Have you
noticed, that in Iraq, the violence is increasing, so is world
“terrorism”, so are all these new laws, laws that take away, your basic
human rights, thats right, all ,every country, now has laws, that 20
years ago, would of been looked at in a doco ,as...Nazi Germany,
did you know, that police don’t have to wear a number,on their jacket in
the states? And the army has the same powers as the police? The patriot
act,has now taken all rights away from the American citizen, in the name
of ,
THE WAR ON TERROR, THEY HAVE ACTUALLY,DECLARED WAR,ON A ,....WORD,...can
someone tell me how we can defeat a word?,...we used to have
....identifiable, “enemies”, now, its just words,al
quida,....jezzabollah,....etc, etc, notice how they have one,...major
player, Osama...but never catch, him?...........yes, up to the
U.S.elections,04,the violence is increasing, why?, Well, if you
have mayhem, its easier to rig elections,Florida,2000,and the person
that everybody calls the president, he isn’t, it is now a
proven....fact, that
their were major fraudulent crimes involved with the 2000 elections, in
America did you know that bush didn’t even move into his ''ranch'',til 6
months
before the ”election”, and his ''ranch was designed by a Hollywood set
designer, for excellent background shots? Then you have the 4 mill.,
paid
to DDT.systems, to remove 50 to 100,000 names off the Florida roll, and
guess who was, and is, the governor of Florida,.....Jeb...Bush,
funny, how the whole election hinged on one state, and whoever wins
Florida, wins the Presidency, and Georges little brother is the
governor,
of that ,state..mmmmm, and Katherine Harris who stopped the recount,
when Gore was gaining, is the Florida attorney general, and was on the
elect Bush 2000 committee, now, with all .U.S. corporate, attacks, when
the native population wants their country back, what happens? Violence,
uncontrolled mayhem, and a few white westerners get killed, sure, it was
terrible what happened, to those 4
mercenaries, but that’s their perogative,1000,bucks a day to hang around
in Iraq, that’s their choice, did you know that there are now,30,000
mercenaries in Iraq,and, yes,there are Australians.
What’s a mercenary,.....a man who will do anything for money, murder,
torture, anything, basically, a “legal” hitman, on the other hand,
families completely wiped out, weddings fired upon, recently, in
may,04,42 people were killed, at a wedding,15 women and
children,......the general in “charge” said in response,
“well, what were they doing having a wedding 80 miles from the city”,
next time the “general” goes for a ride in the country, for a
wedding, and he is attacked by helicopter gunships and f-16s,and machine
guns, we will say, “Oh, what were you doing driving to a wedding in the
country”, life’s a circle, general, what you expect in your country.
Others expect
exactly the same thing, in THEIRS.
Cultural, racism in 2004,in a so called leader, is inexcusable,
especially
when,children and women, innocents are killed, or in this case
manslaughter, or,....childslaughter, more war crimes, yes, children,
maimed, mutilated, ambulances fired on,..massive human rites abuses
everyday, on the Iraqi people,
what is on the front page, what does everyone hear about? The
mercenaries! Of
course. No details, about what those men were doing, and their so
called, contractors,...not mercenaries. I thought a contractor was a
sparky or a plumber, not someone who rapes your wife, or daughter while
you
watch, after torturing you, yes, those four mercenaries were protecting
a food
convoy, to American troops, that are killing Iraqi civilians,
now, what does the U.S corps want? They want to stay in Iraq, for as
long
as possible 4 bases built already, and nine planned. If you put a
government
in power, that the people of Iraq want. What happens? The people, are
happy, they realize the U.S are there to help them, but what does the
U.S corps
do? They are about to install? A government that the Iraqi people, are
totally
against, so you look at the picture,......you, train, supply, and put
into power, a ruthless dictator, that the Iraqi people never
wanted,saddam,dictator,no.1,then,the Iraqis think they are going to get
more of the same, from a U.S. puppet,...Its their country, they should
choose,
so, Saddam has endless wars with his neighbours, that you provoke, and
supply him with info, you sell him and his neighbours weapons, making
huge
profits, you buy his oil, cheap, on the, weapons for oil ratio, and also
because of his ongoing war, almost bankrupting the country, forcing him
to loan
money off you,....you actually visit him numerous times, while he is
committing, massive human rights abuses, you supply him with info to
kill 5000 of his opposition, CIA, which he did. You watch as he kills a
few more thousand kurds, and a few thousand of his own people that you
encouraged to rise up and said you were going to support, you
don’t,.....another lie,
you support him, arm him, put him into power, then when you find out he
might be switching to the euro, bringing the U.S. dollar down, you
provoke him
into attacking a country that was part of his country, for thousands of
years
that was stolen by the British so they could get cheap oil,90 years
ago,after he asked the U.S, ambassador of Kuwait, if he can.
Cont. next edition.
SPARKS STA BUSSIE NEWS
Sparks: What's happening at Ryde?
Ryde Bussie: Shed drivers are facing increasing difficulties due to
problems associated with the refuelling of the gas fuelled buses. They are
facing considerable delays with preparing buses for the road and increased
stress.
Sparks: What's happened at Ryde since the takeover by State Transit of the
two private bus companies North Western and Parramatta/Ryde Bus Company
(Trading name Riverside)?
RB: The original owner of North Western purchased Riverside to establish a
bus network which would be easier to sell off. Prior to the sale of this
network, the owner had been in a financially desperate situation. For one
year following the takeover by the STA, the North Western Routes were
maintained. Since that time, the routes have been significantly changed
though the timetable hasn't. Consequently, running times on these new
routes are often very tight. One driver always advises that on a run
involving these routes he will be half an hour late and is always told to
proceed without taking this factor into account. At the end of the run, he
then reports the half hour delay. Whilst management has indicated their
willingness to consider suggestions from us about problems on the job, its
unlikely they'll take any action on this issue, without considerable
pressure. It'll cost too much money. This is a very serious issue of great
concern to us and direct action will be required to resolve it to our
satisfaction.
Sparks: What's the situation with the bosses who have transferred to Ryde
and elsewhere in State Transit from North Western?
RB: I've observed that some management people who have come from North
Western to Ryde have brought with them a very hard line attitude toward
drivers. This attitude particularly stems from the autocratic management
culture which flourished at North Western. A typical example of this
management attitude at North Western, involved drivers at the end of a
shift being ordered by the bosses to go back on the road for an extra 4
hours. Consequently, those drivers who went along with these directives
wouldn't see much of their families. Whilst others resigned on the spot in
disgust!
"The Roaring of Sabre Toothed Bosses"
Sparks: What's been happening at Leichhardt?
Leichhardt Bussie: In the jungle of the depot, amongst the spiders' web
spun by the Leichhardt Mafia, sabre toothed bosses are on the rampage,
springing on drivers causing carnage. A particularly malicious example of
this behaviour affected Michael the shed driver. He has 20 years service
in
State Transit. Suddenly out of the blue, the bosses launched a campaign of
harassment against him. They interfered in his work to such an extent that
he ended up in hospital due to stress and anxiety. What have the bosses
against Michael? In the case of another driver, management refused a
request for leave due to the diver's genuine respiratory medical problem.
Consequently, the driver's condition worsened and the driver ended up in
hospital with pneumonia. Many of us visited the driver concerned whilst in
hospital.
"General Rambuka and the Bullet"
Sparks: What been happening with "General Rambuka"?
Leichhardt Bussie: He is currently working as a driver and appears to have
been taken off the driver instructor job. I've heard on the grapevine
that
a relative of his was caught working whilst on compo and subsequently got
the bullet. Will General Rambuka also get the bullet for his implication
in
past scams?
Sparks: What do you think of the Carr Govt's attitude toward public
transport?
Waverley Bussie: A survey conducted by the Total Environment Centre gave
the Carr Govt. a very low rating for its support of public transport 4
out
of 10. This neglect of public transport encourages massive surges in cars
on the road. According to "Well Being" magazine there are 800,000 new cars
on the road each year.
Sparks: What's happening on the road?
WB: Recently a driver put on his Sherlock Holmes hat and did a bit of
investigating about the activity of private police in the Waverley Area.
He
rang up the Council and learnt that these private police employed by the
Council have been instructed by the NSW Police, not to book motorists who
park in non-stopping zones. I believe there is a cover up going on about
this illegal parking problem and urgent action needs to be taken.
Can't Raul, our ex-union rep who has taken over Ronny Peasrsall's job on
the union executive get a bit dynamic and tackle this burning issue?
Whilst
we could all write letters to the Minister of Police asking him to explain
the attitude of the NSW police on the issue. Why are the police taking
this
stance? Could the reason be that mainly rich, well off "beautiful" people
live in this area, which the Carr Govt. is unwilling to upset with fines.
When was the last time anyone at Waverley depot saw the police booking
illegally parked cars in Rose Bay or along Old South Head Road?
The police are also brazenly failing to take action against J-walking in
Bondi Junction.
Other news is the bosses' "Better Buses" program. It looks like an example
of tokenism. The bosses are giving the impression of improving bus
services
but are in fact deliberately running them down. They are taking the
opportunity to alter bus routes in the interest of increased revenue.
There
is evidence that these changes are upsetting commuters by fouling up bus
services. The proposed combination of the 329 with the 360 services is one
example. It will lead to worse bus services and has angered many commuters
in that area.
Sparks: What do you think of men's health?
WB: This is a neglected issue. Many men neglect their health and disregard
the early warning signals of potentially serious problems. On the buses,
many years ago, some male drivers had the short sighted attitude of
resorting to excessive alcohol consumption to overcome on the job stress.
In those times before the harsh winds of the ferocious speedup which we
have faced in recent years with successive enterprise agreements, drivers
had more time to go to the pub and enjoy some camaraderie and over indulge
in alcohol and smoking to soothe stress from the rigours of the job.
Causing shorter lifespans. Today, with the inroads on our spare time
caused
by the speed up and more general awareness of the hazards of excessive
alcohol consumption this isn't such a proble. There is a new self
empowerment program called Landmark Forums. It has its origins in San
Francisco and now has offices in the major cities of many different
countries. It has an office at 235 Pyrmont Road Pyrmont. The courses which
vary in duration, provide guidance on a lot of issues, blocking the way of
self improvement. The courses encourage you to put the past in the past
and
help you to see beyond your current identity. The courses can help a lot
of
people improve their general health situation and general quality of life
with a self help/personal empowerment approach. The counsellors who run
the
courses will even ring up those who have attended to see how they are
progressing with self help schemes, which they have adopted. An extra free
10 week back up series of forums is also offered.
Sparks: What's happening with Qantas?
WB: Many of our readers would be surprised to learn that according to the
Financial Reviewcertainly since its privatisation (and possibly before),
Qantas has introduced a high rollers club. Qantas bosses has compiled a
list of silver tails senior company and Govt. managers and intriguingly
both rightwing and left wing union officials. Qantas provides them with
very rapid and deluxe service when arriving and leaving airports and
catching planes, if they want it. These silver tails don't even have to
apply, to get |
