SYDNEY TRAINS CUSTOMER SERVICE DIRECTORATE DECLARES ‘COVID-19’ IS OVER!

Bulletin No: 19.21

To:       RTBU Sydney Trains CSA and Duty Manager Members,

Today Sydney Trains management at their peak COVID-19 meeting announced they would proceed with their planned removal of the Liverpool Railway Station Garrison (GAC). This is despite a promise that the GAC would remain until the end of COVID-19. We can only assume that the Sydney Trains Customer Service Directorate has declared that the COVID-19 pandemic has finished.

The RTBU was gob smacked by this announcement from management as not only was it ironic that this change was announced at a briefing on how Sydney Trains was dealing with COVID briefings, but the COVID-19 pandemic is still well and truly with us.

The Fair Work Commission handed down a disastrous decision last year which failed working people and gave Sydney Trains the green light to remove the Garrison at Liverpool Station. However, management gave a commitment to the RTBU that the Garrison will not be removed until COVID-19 had ended.

Sydney Trains committed to this because it recognised the important role the Garrison played in protecting the health of frontline employees during a pandemic. Without physical barriers like the Garrison, employees would have been more exposed and at risk to contracting COVID-19. Agreements like this saved lives and protected employees from the harmful virus and was part of the co-operative approach adopted by all during the crisis. 

For management to now announce they are going to remove the Garrison shows their complete disregard for the safety of frontline employees. By removing the Garrison, employee’s health and safety will be increasingly at risk as patronage continues to grow. 

We call on Sydney Trains management to honour its commitment and keep the Garrison. If Sydney Trains decides to plough ahead and remove the Garrison, Health and Safety Representatives will be asked to assess whether its removal is safe and take any action necessary to maintain our safety. The risk is way too high to be flippant with employee safety! 

Any questions, please contact your local RTBU delegate or your Organiser on (02) 9264 2511. If you are not an RTBU member, JOIN THE UNION TODAY! Together we are stronger! To join, contact our membership services team on (02) 9264 2511 or email at nswho@rtbu-nsw.asn.au.

Issued by: Trent Hunter Organiser

Authorised by: Alex Claassens Branch Secretary

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