RTBU (Rail, Tram & Bus Union) Strike 29th Jan, What Say You?

Poll Options expired

  • 134
    They deserve 6% pay rise each year over the next 4 years, for what reason?
  • 586
    They already lucky with gov offer of 2.5% pay rise.
  • 21
    They should get 1% pay rise or pay freeze like some of us.
  • 78
    They better off live in a dream world with fairies and unicorns.
  • 42
    I don't care, I drive my $80k investment car.

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Rail, Tram, and Bus Union
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Comments

        • @ninetyNineCents: your comparison between people winning lotto and drivers doing over time

        • @yannyrjl:

          Y: your comparison between people winning lotto and drivers doing over time

          99: You obviously didnt read the previous remark, where it was said drivers get 160k. Maybe SOME get that, but certainly not ALL. Theres a big difference between a VERY SMALL FEW and teveryone else.

          Now apologise for being stupid and not reading everything in full.

        • @ninetyNineCents: why the personal attacks?

          are you suggesting the number of train drivers getting 160k to the total train drivers is the same ratio as lotto winner vs number of lotto ticket buyers?

        • @yannyrjl:

          Y: are you suggesting the number of train drivers getting 160k to the total train drivers is the same ratio as lotto winner vs number of lotto ticket buyers?

          99: Did i say that ?

          Did i use the word ratio or imply the numbers were the same in any form or was i comparing a minority with the actual total group ?

          But then again we can all see you dont know how to read.

        • @ninetyNineCents: again more personal attacks?

          Hence the reason why I mentioned the comparison is disingenuous

        • @yannyrjl:

          WHy didnt you point out the complete dishonesty of the original comment stating that drivers make 160K when its clearly wrong. Implying that ALL drivers make that mucgh is obviously BULLSHIT.

          But then again you have an agenda. Telling the truth is being truthful on all matters not just convenient to your argument.

        • @ninetyNineCents: The original comment stated "SOME", let's keep the discussion civil, and remove the accusations please.

        • @yannyrjl:

          Basically almost zero would earn that, it was irresponsible to introduce it like it was a large minority when it clearly is not.

          SO what if one or two make 160k thats irrelevant as the vast majority dont. We are talking about majorities not tiny minorities.

    • +1

      They are pushing for a pay increase to be competitive with QLD and VIC who have been attracting trained drivers from NSW. This is to reduce the strain on drivers due to the new timetable which has meant drivers have to pull overtime to make the network run. The shortfall in drivers directly contributed to the mess last week.

  • +7

    They deserve it and if you think they don't or they're paid too well, why aren't you doing their jobs then?

    • +8

      If everyone deserves the same pay, then why bother studying and get a 'decent' job? might as well becomes a cleaner.

      It is not about how much is the pay, its about how much is the rise. Each job has its own merit, qualification, and pay, the 6% rise shouldn't apply to all workers, and might not apply at all looking at how the economies performing.

      • +30

        They're not asking for the same pay as the senior management, who earn way more and got a 9% pay increase (explain that!)

        They're asking for fair pay and conditions, and the strike shows they don't believe the current offer is fair.

        • +3

          "Explain that": as per quote:
          "The Minister’s office said only one executive received more than 2.5 per cent increase linked to their performance.

          Any other rise above 2.5 per cent was for changed roles or new responsibilities.

          Mr Constance last night defended Mr Collins’ pay packet describing him as the “Tube man”. He said his salary had increased to reflect the fact he was now also working as acting chief executive of NSW Trains as well as Sydney Trains.

          “I don’t think the union is going to begrudge someone a salary change if their job role changes,” he said.

          “This is a man who everyday is responsible for the safety of millions of commuters and running the railway.”

        • +11

          @shaiguy:

          The Sydney Trains top four management execs received an average pay increase of 9%.

          Excluding Howard Collins (who earns $695 000, more than Malcolm Turnbull), how can they have increased responsibility if they're already the highest ranking executives?!

        • -4

          @thetrain:

          how is their pay relevant to the planned stop-work by drivers on the 29.01.2018?

          what does pm malcolm turnbull salary have to do this discussion?

        • +4

          @whooah1979: The strike is a dispute over pay and conditions. The union wants a 6% wage increase per year, the government claims 2.5% is the policy for all public servants.

          Their pay is relevant as a 9% rise for execs is clearly not in line with official government policy for wage growth. There is also discussion in the comments here on the average train driver salary

        • @thetrain:

          What does the management contracts state and what does the drivers contact state?

        • @whooah1979: sorry mate not privy to those contracts

        • @thetrain:

          Ohh. Thought you were a train driver.

        • @whooah1979: haha no worries just been following it with interest

        • +2

          @thetrain:

          Train top execs earns more than our prime minister which both works for the government.

          One run the country and one run tye train network….

          I find that really bizarre.

        • +4

          @luffyex2010:

          Don't be naive. You don't become PM for the salary.

        • just open up the market and let supply and demand take care of things, oh wait the union won't allow that to happen

      • +1

        Maybe so however public sector v private sector wage negotiations are completely different.

        Working in the private sector, you negotiate what you are "worth' to the company … you might have the same role as the person sitting next to you but could be paid differently.

        In the public sector, you negotiate collectively. Imagine the above role, sitting next to the same person doing the 'same thing', the theory is that you are both as just as 'qualified' and thus should be paid the same (including any rises)

        But I get where you're coming from how not every job (in the trains) should get the pay rise collectively. For example, why should someone in the mail room , get the same % rise as some one in the spare parts department etc - that's just a loose example.

        I have never worked for the trains or ever been in any Union, but then I guess, I live in Sydney and walk everywhere. :D So I support the strike as it doesn't bother me :D

      • +5

        It is not about how much is the pay, its about how much is the rise.

        Why?

        If the current pay is below market rate by 6%, a 6% raise is fair. If current pay is above market rate, then it is not. What is the market rate for a qualified train driver in the private sector, or in Melbourne or Brisbane?

        • +3

          There's only 1 market for each Syd, Melbourne and Brisbane train drivers. I don't recall Sydney Trains has any competitor, for now.

        • +3

          @blaccdong: Anecdotally, some train drivers have moved from Sydney to Melbourne and Brisbane for more money. It's foolish to pretend that wages in the capital cities are completely independent of each other. Are you telling me you wouldn't move for 5x your current pay? I'd move for 1.5x in a heartbeat!

          Within the Sydney area, there are also the long distance passenger trains (not sure if they get same pay as suburban), freight trains (Pacific National), and private lines inside large industrial facilities.

        • @abb:

          RTBU also operates in Victoria; they pretty much forced their way into a high pay rise in Victoria; Now they're saying "Victorian drivers get paid heaps! We need to pay the NSW guys more!"

          What a time to be alive! Next year it'll be "NSW drivers get paid heaps! We need a new EBA for Victoria!"

        • @Elee3112: Well that game worked for the CEOs, so why not the people doing the actual work?

        • but rather than treating people as individuals, they have to be treated the same across the group?

          Feels rather like communist China where an electrical engineer was getting paid the same as a cleaner (36 Yuan per month). This is when things are really fair !!! Or is it? (perfect example of equal outcome or what I like to call the lost 3 decades)

    • +17

      24% pay increase over four years? That's a bit rich.

      What are they doing to increase their performance over four year?

      • +16

        Drive the trains 6% faster each year.

      • +11

        26.25% actually. Take into account compound interest

      • +12

        Maybe they are currently underpaid by 20%. These discussions are meaningless without some more data.

        • They're jealous the management getting 9% rise. These workers need hard life education, if you're at the bottom at the food chain, don't expect anything, food scrap off your boss' table is the norm.

        • @blaccdong: Is "scraps off the boss' table" how you'd like to live your life? Sounds pretty shit to me, almost like medieval times. Good if you're born into the nobility I suppose.

      • This is a timetable issue really. Drivers execute the timetable which is the service contract to the public.

        I have yet to meet one person who has benefitted with the new changes but then again, the infrastructure is at its limits.

        Lipstick on a pig.

      • Only keeping the trains running which shift 1/4 of the city. THey arent selling chewing gum.

    • +9

      I wish the government would sack them all and hire me instead.

      • So why dont you apply there are plenty of openings as the trains are short of drivers.

      • nope, the union wouldn't allow a merit based system to work, because that would mean they would be redundant.

  • +33

    bring on driverless trains

    • +7

      they will have another strike, just like when Taxi drivers when govt is approving the Uber.

      • +7

        taxi drivers did a similar thing last year when they blocked the roads to high traffic areas. that backfired when it caused people to arrive late to work.

        this will also backfire when commuters turn their anger on the train drivers and their union.

        • +3

          They could have made their point in the trains, informing commuters, and getting them on their side, and then walk down George Street.
          Point is, they would not have got the support, as their demands, in a time where the average increase in salary is 1%, are ridiculous.

      • +8

        If the trains drive themselves, the drivers can strike as long as they like lol

    • +9

      They're coming! The new metro is driverless

      • +3

        I am imagining that the driverless trains will be controlled by 'drivers' sitting in a control centre, with one of those little control units for each train (like a scaletrix set). What a job that would be.

        • +2

          Uh oh, now I have a mental image of a little kid turning speed up to full … xD

        • @thetrain: yep, sure to happen.
          I did know someone who had a large scale train set through multiple rooms in their house, which backed on to a train line. He woke one morning to an actual train derailment into his backyard.
          Overjoyed!

        • +1

          These 'drivers' at the 'control centre' probably sitting in Manila or Mumbai for all we know.

        • +2

          You're very creative, but sadly, no scaletrix style models and hand controllers.

          There'll be one (or a few, as the driverless network grows) operator half watching a status screen, half asleep or reading a book, waiting for a loud buzzer that alerts them to some problem. There will be few problems, but when they occur, you will be annoyed that the operator responds imperfectly to this rare/unique situation.

          Source: I have a lot of experience building automated systems.

        • @abb: Pheww, I thought for a moment, any jobs can be outsourced, including prime minister, for the sake of cost cutting and more profit.

        • +2

          @blaccdong:

          I thought for a moment, any jobs can be outsourced, including prime minister,

          we can't outsource the pm nor any other mp. section 42 of the constitution requires that they've take an oath or affirmation of allegiance to australia, and section 44 state that they can't have an allegiance to a foreign power.

        • Nope. It is clear from the comments about that people in Australia have no clue as to how these trains work. Driverless trains are, like it says, driverless. There is a control centre, but it isn't the job of those working there to drive trains.

          What happens in most countries is, the train driver's job no longer exist. It is replaced by a "Customer Service Officers (CSO)" who is trained to drive trains (only in emergency situations). This cuts the cost as:
          1) CSO are paid less than drivers.
          2) There isn't a need to have a driver in both Carriage 1 and 5, therefore requiring only half the staff.

          Also, going on strike is not an option as the trains can operate without drivers.
          Think about this for a second, when train drivers go on strike, who actually organises replacement buses and install those plastic "replacemnt bus" signages? Those same people are responsible for keeping the "driverless" trains running. Trains drivers have no say on the issue.

          Also to note, the new trains system is a metro system, and it does not fall under the control of sydney trains. The station signages are also different (A white "M" on a blue background instead of "T" on an orange background)

        • @whooah1979: thank goodness for the constitution.

      • Driverless trains arent free. In fact the software contract will probably be MORE than the contract to pay real people to drive the trains.

        Take OPAL, the contract for 15 years is $1.2B, thats a bout $80M a year, and that probably doesnt include the service and cost of machinery and cameras. The cost of this contract is probably more than if they just people.

        There are about 300 stations on the OPAL network, most are minor stations that still have one or two people at most times, they just dont sell tickets. Its obvious the cost of the old ticket collectors is far less than the cost of the opal system for the state. Only major stations like Paramatta or Town had dozens of people involved in selling tickets etc.

        The gov spent $80M + a year on OPAL to save paying at most the wages of a few hundred staff. NOt a saving.

        https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nsw-pours-15m-more-into-opal-…

    • +2

      Hong Kong, Dubai, France many other countries all embraced fully driverless trains so much more efficient less accidents. It’s time we fired all these overpaid train drivers who will close the door on ur face for their sadistic entertainment.

      Let’s go driverless

      • For starters you will need to replace ALL the trains with new driverless compatible ones. You will also need to add sensors to the ENTIRE SYSTEM. Do you realise this will COST BILLIONS.

        YOu are really smart spend $5B + to save paying these drivers less than $20.

  • +20

    The unions are extremely stupid.

    How entitled do they think they are that the world revolves around them?? They want to strike but they want everyone to take the day off to make it a general strike.

    People have work that doesn't stop, people have places to be.

    They want 6%….just how many people have gotten 6% recently?

  • Strike one, strike two, strike three, you are out!

    Transport Minister vs Union

    • Lets just hope the private sector won't charge us arms and legs for these driverless buses and trains.

      • ….simple example = our electricity abit outdated but its relevant.
        Electricity Price Index 1990-2014

        Sometimes I wonder if there is a bigger picture behind these strikes by controlling these mindless sheep. Only take one mastermind to have a privatization plan moving and it well sure will involves heaps of $$$ (minister shaking hand with union mastermind nobody will ever know and will be CEOs when they leave the union/govt.)

        • I feel those increases were due to the push for renewable energy which cost more than conventional energy generation at the beginning. Now the question is whether prices will stabilize or if power companies continue to jiggle the consumer along for as long as they can.

      • There has never been an example where a government monopoly that was given to a corporation ever resulted in lower prices for the public.

        Why would a corporation suddenly charge less when they can charge more ?

        There are many examples where prices increase, eg, gas, electricity, toll ways.

        A captive audience has no choice and a corporation will always take advantage of this and increase prices.

    • +1

      Constance wants us to 'embrace disruption'. Obviously not the kind of disruption he was expecting …

      • +1

        I think its because all MPs' are entitled to :-

        Car with driver: COMCAR at their service when they are in Canberra, interstate on official business or to travel to and from the airport in their home city.

        Private-plated vehicle: Every MP given a car from a list (typically a Holden, Ford or Toyota). MPs pay $711 a year and taxpayers pay all costs, including petrol, registration and servicing. Can be used for private and family reasons and can be driven by a staff member or family member.

        their daily lives are not affected lol.

  • +2

    but people don't complain when pollies give themselves a payrise?

    • +7

      Pretty sure that makes the news everytime they do.

  • -2

    Why do you care?

    • +8

      nsw taxpayers care.

      • -4

        Meh

        • the roads to work are a bit bumpy. the 24% would be better spent on road repairs.

        • -1

          @whooah1979:
          Nope they should first make the shitty overpayed AU post CEO pay them back

        • +7

          @BrodenIt:

          overpayed AU post CEO

          that's a federal government matter. nsw government has nothing to do with that.

        • @whooah1979:
          I dunno, I still know the government is shit either way.

        • @BrodenIt: Are you related to Brennen IT?

        • -2

          @RandomDeviation:
          Who the (profanity) that.?

        • @BrodenIt: be more informed with ur hate mate

        • -2
        • @BrodenIt: too late, he already walked away with $10 million.

        • -2

          @blaccdong:
          Shit yeh and his negging me right now

        • @whooah1979:

          Absolute nonsense, the more roads you build the worse the traffic becomes. Just look at Sydney. IM not saying there are too many freeways or tollways. im simply stating its a fact the more capacity or roads the more traffic uses them.

          The only way to fix the roads is to improve public transport simply.

  • +7

    How does a pay rise fix the current transport issues? We need more staff more than anything else.

    • +3

      Exactly. Better use of the money that would be spent on a 24% pay rise for current staff would be in the form of hiring 24% more staff over the next 4 years.

  • +6

    Not only are the poll options not really sufficient to reflect the views of many people, they don't even really make sense!

    • +1

      what option do you suggest?

    • The strike is about payrise and better working condition, they didn't specify what exactly 'better' working condition.

      But the 6% payrise each year over 4 years is clearly stated, thus the poll is about that.

      • +8

        "A Sydney train driver with 25 years' experience says his colleagues are struggling with fatigue since the recently introduced timetable increased working hours" (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-16/sydney-train-driver-sp…)

        I'm assuming this is what they're referring to when they talk about working conditions, which is fair. Personally, I think the main issue is the timetable that was recently introduced. If that was reversed, they wouldn't need to work so much overtime and become fatigued, and commuters wouldn't be affected too significantly either since it'd just go back to the way things were a few months ago. Then there could be a greater focus on hiring/training up drivers if needed.

        The offer of a 2.5% rise is already quite good, considering what they're earning already. Medical school graduates don't make that much (and, yes, while I understand pay increases quickly later on, there is still a minimum 5 years of university study and fees required - not to mention ongoing training requirements throughout a doctor's career too)

        • +4

          True that new timetable will make them to work more overtime. However they get paid extra for those overtime.

          Most office jobs don't pay overtime, most office workers can't go on strike.

          Lets take a step back and rethink who are the ones not getting fair working condition? I'm quite sure transport staff gets more benefit than ordinary workers, extra annual leave, extra super for a start.

        • +1

          @blaccdong: Exactly!

          Even if the Gov gives them a pay rise, they can't cope up with the current timetable. They'd still blame the timetable and overwork and fatigue. Go figure!

          Union is just using this as an opportunity to get a payrise. Super greedy & selfish.

          Note - I am not a fan of Syd trains either. They can do better in terms of timetable and communicating with unions, but union's move of holding the city (tax paying, ticket paying) at ransom is just not right.

        • +2

          @blaccdong: The point of the strike is to improve conditions for drivers and therefore address problems with the rail network that affect commuters as well. Better pay and conditions (comparable with Melbourne and Brisbane) will attract more prospective drivers to fill the gaps in the new timetable (which the RTBU warned was vulnerable to disruptions).

          Overtime can be beneficial for drivers but a decent transport network shouldn't rely on overtime to function. A fatigued driver will call in sick more often and could easily cause a major accident leading to the loss of lives.

        • @nonbeliever93: Then what they need to do is to recruit more drivers, launch a massive recruitment campaign.

          I believe there are people who likes to take this job, the problem is that they never mentioned more recruitment, despite their constant whinging of staff shortage.

        • @blaccdong: On what basis do you say there are people prepared to take the job? It is the responsibility of management to train more drivers to service the new timetable (as the RTBU warned was necessary). It takes a year to train a driver. In the time it takes to make up the staff shortage, how many current rail staff will leave due to excessive overtime and low morale?

        • @blaccdong: true to that, at one stage I worked over 60 hours a week but that was my choice, no one put a gun to my head. In this country everyone has a choice, which isn't something that can be said in some places around the world, even today.

  • +9

    Once again, cities come to a halt because of bloody unions

    • +6

      Your right I wish they would just go away. Oh and I hope they take annual leave, sick pay, maternity leave, penalty rates, 8 hour working day, meal breaks, superannuation and unfair dismissal protection with them.

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