Page 18 - ETU Journal Autumn 2017

RAIL > MOVING FORWARD
(cont...) After privatisation they gutted the joint, and we were down to 37 staff in overhead. We lost
about half our staff to redundancy packages, which was never anticipated. Then there was a slow build back. As things started to settle down post privatisation we got more heads in the door. The RTBU [Rail, Tram and Bus Union] was falling apart at the time, which helped us pick up membership, and now we’ve got about 95% coverage in overhead and 60% in Metro overall. Pay rates have risen since privatisation by about 300%.
Q So would you say that privatisation has been a good thing for the industry?
It’s been a good thing for the workers, absolutely. It’s exposed us to market forces, which has been a positive. Today we’ve probably got better terms and conditions than the distribution sector. Management tries things on all the time, but we say ‘No, it’s not happening’, and they generally listen to us. This is partly because we have the knowledge and history of what has come before.
It’s easier to negotiate with a privatised company like Metro than with a government-owned entity like VLine. It’s chalk and cheese. We can negotiate and we get better and quicker outcomes with Metro.
Metro cops a lot of criticism, but they are throwing plenty of money at the business. They inherited a business that had been run down and if it returned to public ownership I can see that happening again.
Q How do you feel about the future of the industry and all the infrastructure works on the horizon?
I think it’s a bright future with the commitment from this government on level crossing removals. There’s another five to six years’ work there minimum, and we’re up to our ears in it. Then there’s the Metro Tunnel. The only concern we’ve got is that there’s a reluctance to hire people directly;
JACINTA ALLEN
Minister for Public Transport and Major Projects
Q Congratulations on the terrific job you are doing in the public transport and major projects portfolio. Has there ever been as much investment in expanding Victoria’s rail network as we’ve seen under the Andrews Government?
By any measure the current level of investment in rail infrastructure in Victoria is at record levels under the Andrews Government. Projects include the $11 billion Metro Tunnel,
“It’s easier to negotiate with a privatised company like Metro than with a government-owned entity like VLine.”
ANDREW TARANTO
Calder Park Stabling Yard
there’s a lot of use of contractors. I’d like to see more heads put on, including trainees and apprentices.
Q
Yes I would – working in the rail industry is a good thing. Metro is the ETU’s single largest shop and most of those members are now earning more than sparkies in the contracting industry. So it’s now a very attractive place to come and work. n
the removal of 50 level crossings, the train extension to Mernda, the Murray Basin rail project and the Ballarat line upgrade. There is also record levels of investment in our rolling stock, including 65 new high-capacity trains. So there’s record funding but, just as importantly, record jobs, with the best local content, skills and training provisions in Australia.
Would you recommend working in the rail industry
to other electricians?
Q
We understand that you have a family connection to the ETU. Could you tell us a little bit about your father’s history with the union?
My family has a long history of being actively involved with the union movement and the ALP. My grandfather was the Bendigo Branch President of the ALP and a long-time shop steward for the Australian Railways Union in Bendigo.
THE ETU > AUTUMN 2017
www.facebook.com/etuvic
Caulfield-Dandenong Skyrail Project
Ormond Mckinnon Bentleigh Level Crossing Removal
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