Transport stop-works

Wednesday, October 14, 1992 - 10:00

Transport stop-works

By Rebecca Meckelburg

ADELAIDE — Members of the Australian Tramways and Motor Omnibus Employees Association in SA held a stop-work on October 7.

The meeting was to discuss the Industrial Relations Commission's decision allowing the State Transport Authority to employ 30% of its 1300 bus drivers as casuals. The ATMOEA is appealing against the decision.

The union's state secretary, Tom Morgan, faces dismissal over his handling of the STA's push for casual drivers. Morgan informed the IRC that the application "had merit". He is also alleged to have ignored national union policy.

At the same time, the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen held a stop-work to discuss its campaign for a 12.8% wage rise — made up of 4.8% for agreeing to enterprise bargaining conditions and 8% to catch up on pay rises promised last year, when train guards were replaced by transit police.

The STA is offering 8%. AFULE state secretary Rex Phillips said the union opposed the STA's insistence on the workers agreeing to strike or claim wage rises outside the national wage case for three years. n

From GLW issue 75