RTBU secures important national commitments from Labor

Last week the ALP National Conference was held in Brisbane, and a number of RTBU representatives from around the country took part. The National Conference debated some big national political issues facing country such as housing national security and defence, climate change and industrial relations.

One of the main roles of the ALP National Conference is to finalise the party’s National Platform. The National Platform is an important document that sets the policy goals of the federal Labor Party. The National Platform is even more important when Labor is in power, as it effectively sets the policy direction for the Federal Government.

The RTBU, in conjunction with other unions, was successful in securing a number critical commitments in the ALP’s updated National Platform. For example, we were able to secure platform commitments on issues such as strong rail safety regulations, securing the future of rail freight, growing domestic rail manufacturing, growing public transport, criminalising wage theft, and access to arbitration to resolve industrial disputes (see details on next page).

WHAT NOW?

The RTBU, along with other unions, will continue to pressure Federal Government to make sure the commitments in the ALP National Platform are delivered in full. For example, in recent months we have successfully secured a review of national rail safety laws, and argued against the rail safety regulator’s attempt to impose mandatory in-cab surveillance on rail workers.

We will continue working to get a fair go for rail, tram and bus workers from all sides of politics.

RTBU-RELATED PLATFORM COMMITMENTS

Rail Safety

Labor recognises that strong, prescriptive safety regulations are the foundation stone of a safe and reliable transport sector, and is committed to harmonisation of safety regulations to ensure best-practice standards and practices are applied consistently across all jurisdictions.

Rail Freight

Labor will work to ensure the resilience of our supply chain and freight networks, including considering the importance of rail in the movement of freight across Australia.

Rail Manufacturing

Labor will work with state governments to address rail infrastructure needs and will ensure more trains are built in Australia to create skilled manufacturing jobs.

Public Transport

Labor will work with state and local governments to encourage increased use of all public transport and active transport modes.

Wage Theft

Labor will increase penalties for employers and related entities that systematically underpay and exploit workers. Labor will legislate to make intentional wage theft a criminal offence.

Good Faith Bargaining

Labor will promote and ensure good faith bargaining in workplaces, including by developing guidelines on good faith conduct in negotiations to allow access to and assistance from the independent umpire to resolve disputes including giving parties access to arbitration.

Union Delegates

Labor will ensure union representatives, including delegates, are able to organise and effectively represent workers, including through paid training leave.

The updated ALP National Platform will be available online shortly at https://www.alp.org.au/about/national-platform/