Metro Trains Sydney Update: MTS Sacks RTBU Delegate for MSD Petition

Bulletin 27/19

To: All RTBU Metro Trains Sydney Members.

Metro Trains Sydney Update:

MTS Sacks RTBU Delegate for MSD Petition

Yesterday afternoon, Metro Trains Sydney (MTS) terminated the employment of the RTBU delegate at MTS without reason. As the RTBU delegate was on probation, MTS would be well aware that there would be no avenue for recourse to the Fair Work Commission (FWC), as unfair dismissal applications are not available to employees with less than 6 months service.

MTS have relied on spurious reasons (at best) to support their actions to terminate the delegate’s employment. It is the view of the RTBU that MTS terminated the employment of the delegate due to his involvement with the RTBU and his activity as a union delegate.

As members would be aware, the RTBU is in the process of petitioning for a Majority Support Determination (MSD) to fight for a fair agreement for all operational employees. We believe that that MTS’ actions yesterday are an attempt by the company to intimidate the RTBU and its members.

This morning, the RTBU wrote to MTS demanding that our delegate be reinstated. We have not received a response by the deadline and we’ll therefore be seeking an injunction in the Federal Court so that MTS are held accountable for their actions.

Being a part of a union means that an action of a company towards one individual is an attack on every worker and we will not tolerate anti-union attacks by MTS on any member. The RTBU will take up the fight against MTS for what they have done, and will do so for any other member employed by MTS who is targeted due to their union involvement – because members have a right under the Fair Work Act to be involved in their union without being targeted by the boss for doing so.

We will keep all members updated as the matter progresses. If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please contact the RTBU on (02) 9264 2511 or email  metro@rtbu-nsw.asn.au.

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Authorised by:

Alex Claassens

Branch Secretary