Page 16 - ETU Journal Autumn 2017

RAIL > MOVING FORWARD
Q What are some of the changes you have seen in the industry over the years?
I took over just after privatisation, when there were a lot of teething problems. We had a lot of redundancies at the time, but otherwise it was like nothing had really changed. The major changes took place when Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM) took over in 2009. At that time the government made sure there was a lot of money available for renewal work.
Since then we’ve seen sleeper replacements, infrastructure changes and major projects. There is now
a long-term plan to expand and upgrade the network.
In the last eight years we’ve seen new and upgraded railway stations built, more track maintenance and a lot more passengers using the service.
Q How have you managed to achieve such high wages growth?
We’ve brought in different allowances and had good wage outcomes and classification reviews. It all adds
up. Last year’s agreement had a magnificent outcome, with a 14% wage increase over four years, all overtime at double time and we changed a flat allowance to an all- purpose allowance.
GERRY GLOVER
Organiser
Gerry Glover has been the ETU’s rail industry organiser since 2002. He has gained
a wealth of experience
and seen a lot of changes
in that time, including the privatisation of the industry. Now, with unprecedented government investment flowing into the network, there are more changes and exciting opportunities on the horizon.
Q What do you like most about the rail industry?
It’s diversity. The workforce includes lineworkers, electricians, signal maintenance technicians, assistants, track workers, supervisors – and they’re all members of the ETU. Most of the issues we deal with stem from collective agreements, but we have some members who are on common law contracts as well.
Q
What is your view on public versus private ownership of the system? Which is better?
ANDREW TARANTO
We have always done well negotiating with Metro, with wages growing by
300% since 2000.
GERRY GLOVER
If it was still publicly owned today I would probably say ‘Why change it?’. But almost 20 years after privatisation, would I want it to go back to public ownership? No.
VLine and Metropolitan Rail were both privatised in 1999, but the government took back ownership of VLine in 2004. Negotiating with VLine is much more difficult because there are so many more barriers. You’re limited
in what you can negotiate because of government policy, and when there is a conservative government they take a very hard
line. In contrast we have always done well negotiating with Metro, with wages growing by 300% since 2000.
THE ETU > AUTUMN 2017
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