Region 6 EA Update

We met with TSA on Thursday to go over the shift modelling and work towards a clearer picture of how things need to look as we focus on creating a single roster with the same penalties and shift timings.

The shift modelling is the company having the system run through creating work with different guidelines. This includes things like the minimum broken shift break, broken shift length, length of a portion of work, etc. As this is done, it also shows what the impact is on things like how many buses would be needed or saved, addition or reduction to the amount of employees needed and changes to the shift averages. We’re basically gathering information on what our demands are going to cost operationally so we can negotiate properly. One of the problems with the previous company bargaining rep was that none of this information was provided, it was just a ‘NO’ to everything. ‘NO’ needs a reason and explanation.

While this last meeting did not run for a full day, we also discussed headline items including TSA’s issues and how we can get around them to preserve the parameters in the Copied State Award. For example the company has said they are unwilling to extend the ADO system or more than 4 weeks annual leave to #900 drivers.

One key issue that has come up is the payrise owed to the #900 drivers. The company has been given this money by the government, and the company has failed to pass it on directly, preferring to use it as a bargaining chip, just like they tried to do with OUR payrise. The TWU has demanded that the company pass this on and the RTBU absolutely backs them up. It should be given to affected workers not just as a gesture of good faith but because it’s the workers’ money, not TSA’s. If the company fails to do so it could lead to further action. We’ll have to wait and see.