RTBU Update: Metro Trains Sydney (MTS) Operational Agreement

Bulletin 25/19

To: All RTBU Metro Trains Sydney Members.

RTBU Update: Metro Trains Sydney (MTS) Operational Agreement

As you would recall, on 6 March 2019 the RTBU wrote to Metro Trains Sydney (MTS) requesting the commencement of bargaining for an Enterprise Agreement covering Operational classifications. Shortly after, MTS responded that they were unclear as to what the RTBU was asking. The RTBU last week responded to MTS clearly putting forth our position – namely, that the existing Greenfields Agreement applies only to professional/clerical classifications and we therefore wish to bargain for an Operational Agreement. The RTBU is yet to hear back from MTS in relation to this matter.

The RTBU is aware that numerous MTS employees and RTBU members have signed the revised contracts of employment stipulating that pay increases will be paid to employees on the condition that they are no longer employees of MTM but MTS and therefore are covered by the Greenfields Agreement. The RTBU’s advice is that the mere signing of new letters of offer does not mean that the Greenfields Agreement applies to your employment. Coverage of an enterprise agreement is a legal concept that cannot be signed for. The purpose of seeking to negotiate a new Agreement with MTS on your behalf is to ensure that you have a specific Agreement which provides for conditions that relates to the work that you do (such as rostering guidelines).

The RTBU is therefore campaigning around a Majority Support Determination (MSD) – this will force MTS to bargain with us and will determine once and for all who is covered by the Greenfields Agreement. Should the RTBU be successful, we will be negotiating an operational Agreement for everyone not working in professional, technical and/or clerical classifications. In order to do this, however, we will need to ensure that a majority of the workforce makes clear that they wish to bargain. There are petitions being handed around at the moment, so if you see one of these in your workplace, make sure that you sign and return it. If you have not seen the MSD petition, please email metro@rtbu-nsw.asn.au in order to get a copy.

The RTBU will be back on site this week to hold further discussions and to explain next steps. 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.

Issued and Authorised by:

Alex Claassens

Branch Secretary