NSW Trains announce massive changes to Regional Stations

Bulletin 8 – 2016

To: All NSW Trains Regional Members,

At meetings with NSW Trains management on Tuesday 22^nd and Wednesday 23^rd March NSW Trains finally provided some details on the NSW Government’s proposal to “modernise” regional services.

NSW Trains identified that they intend to “unattend” 12 regional locations, the RTBU delegation simply called it for what it is and called it the “Closure” of stations and more job losses in the bush.

Despite assurances from management in our meeting yesterday that the business cases would be held back until the union was in a position to speak directly with the affected members personally at their work location it was discovered this morning that some information had already gone out to our members.

The (12) locations that will be “Closed/Unattended” using the consultation process will be;

Murwillumbah, Byron Bay, Lismore, Nambucca Heads, Macksville, Blayney, Wellington, Parkes, Broken Hill, Yass Junction, Griffith and the Broadmeadow Travel Centre.

Members please be advised that Mick Cartwright will be visiting all the Northern locations that are intended to be closed commencing Wednesday 30^th March. Mick will also be visiting Yass Junction on Thursday 7^th April and Griffith on Friday 8^th April.

Graham Fozzard will be visiting locations that are intended to be closed Wellington, Parkes and then Blayney all on 30^th March with a visit to Broken Hill on Friday 1^st April.

NSW Trains then announced that the following (20) locations will have significant reduction in employees and hours of operations and will be subjected to the normal staff review process:

Casino, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Wauchope, Taree, Armidale, Tamworth, Narrabri, Gunnedah, Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo, Canberra, Goulburn, Cootamundra, Junee, Wagga, Albury and the Sydney Booking Office.

We believe the Staff Review process will begin starting with the Northern Region locations from 18^th April, then the Central West followed by the Southern region.

The RTBU Staff Review Delegates are: Joanne McCallum, John Whitty and Doug Collins and Mark Thompson as the Co-Ordinator.

Members, and in particular Delegates from the regional locations are encouraged to contact the RTBU Office before the workplace management visits to ensure that they are aware of all the latest up to date relevant information.