Failure to Protect Frontline Workers – Lifting of MOS Ban

Dear members,

Over the past 2 weeks, we have seen some of the most vile, abhorrent, disgusting abuse directed toward our frontline members. In particular station staff, transport officers, guards to name just a few.

On 22 August 2022, we raised this issue in a meeting with Sydney Trains senior management. The need to keep members safe is not optional. No matter what is causing the abuse, Sydney Trains have a non-transferable obligation to maintain a safe workplace.

On 23 August 2022, we wrote to Sydney Trains demanding that they cease providing misinformation to the public in relation to our industrial action. We further demanded that Sydney Trains put protections in place for frontline staff who are suffering unspeakable abuse.

We did not receive a response.

Again on 27 August 2022, after receiving some particularly concerning threats directly against station staff, we wrote to Sydney Trains attaching the specific threat, as well as other examples.

We did not receive a response.

This morning, we received a report that a knife had been pulled on a station staff member in Southern Sydney. We put this to Sydney Trains who sent a manager out to inform the victim that the reason for the abuse was the industrial action. They chose to blame the victim!

Throughout the past few days, politicians have come out and labelled railway workers as “thugs” and “holding the state to ransom”. This has just made the dregs of our society more aggressive and more threatening.

It is clear that the NSW Government and Sydney Trains and NSW Trains do not care for the safety of their employees. No real steps have been taken to address threats to our members lives including:

• Burning workers and their children alive
• Decapitation
• Physical assault to “within an inch of their life”
• Rape
• Death through inescapable pain

The RTBU has always seen safety as its number one priority. If management won’t take steps to protect our safety, we will.

Effective from 0001hrs on 31 August 2022, the Minimum Operating Standards ban will be lifted to ensure that the imminent risk to our customer facing members is removed.

However, there may be some left-over anger or threats in the community so remember that you have rights to stop work if it is unsafe. We encourage members to do so.

In Unity,
RTBU NSW

Issued & authorised by Alex Claassens, Secretary, Rail, Tram and Bus Union – NSW Branch
Level 4, 321 Pitt Street,
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 92642511
nswho@rtbu-nsw.asn.au
www.rtbu-nsw.asn.au

30 August 2022