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Home » 2008 » #757 » Australian News » Rail workers vote for action

John Coleman, Sydney

On July 3, 95% of NSW Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) members voted to take action on pay and conditions in the next 30 days, not ruling out disrupting World Youth Day.

At a press conference on July 5, RTBU secretary Nick Lewocki said “by voting for industrial action, RTBU members were sending the government, RailCorp and the community a clear message — that the policy of cutting back our railways must end.

“The RTBU says rail workers have been forced to look at foregoing a day’s pay to halt the Iemma government’s plans to slash rail services.

“Rail workers share the public’s frustration over rail mismanagement — we simply cannot accept further downgrading of public transport services.”

RailCorp’s proposed job cuts will seriously compromise public safety, leaving hundreds of stations unstaffed and eliminating guards from trains. This is despite an increased patronage of public transport as fuel prices soar.

Instead of expanding public transport to meet demand, the Iemma government instead has an agenda of building new freeways and privatising transport, to name two very unpopular measures.

The RTBU ballot on July 2 shows RTBU rail workers are sick of the hypocritical stance of the government, whose members voted for a 6.7% pay rise for themselves.

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