Fair Work ratifies Transdev back-pay for 90 tram workers

Fair Work ratifies Transdev back-pay for 90 tram workers The Rail Tram and Bus Union Bus, Tram Division, have had their 10-month long struggle to negotiate fair pay and conditions for the Tram workers at Pyrmont, vindicated in the Fair Work Commission The Fair Work Commission (FWC) ratified the agreement on the 19th of October awarding roughly 90 workers at Pyrmont trams back-pay for a year, to November 2015.

“After a long fight with the employer, we’re very pleased that the Fair Work Commission has awarded tram employees the back pay they deserve” RTBU Divisional Secretary Chris Preston said.

“Our members have been struggling to deal with a massive increase in commuter numbers, overcrowded carriages, unrealistic timetables and angry commuters.”

Mr Preston said that the union has consistently raised its concerns with the company about dangerously overcrowded carriages, increased driver shift limits and unrealistic passenger turnaround times, but it has been ignored.

Patronage on the light rail has soared over the past year due in part to a 5.6-kilometre extension to Dulwich Hill, prompting the operator to recently put on 90 extra services a week.

“We’ll continue to campaign on behalf of our members and commuters for better, safer working conditions and realistic operating times.”

“At the end of the day, it’s about getting commuters from A and to B safely and smoothly. You can’t do that with stressed, fatigued tram operators and dangerously overcrowded trams rushing to unrealistic timetables.”