ROADS & MARITME SERVICE & TRANPORT FOR NSW AMALGAMATION - Public Service Association

ROADS & MARITME SERVICE & TRANPORT FOR NSW AMALGAMATION

ROADS & MARITME SERVICE & TRANPORT FOR NSW AMALGAMATION (pdf version)

BIG PUSH FOR JOB SECURITY

PSA and Combined Unions win key amendments in Upper House

Our previous bulletin provided staff with an update on the progress of the RMS dissolution bill through NSW Parliament. You can see our previous bulletin by clicking HERE.

In the Upper House a raft of amendments have been introduced and accepted.

Amendments
Amendments were moved and supported by the ALP, Greens, Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party, Animal Justice Party, Justin Field and One Nation. A copy of all successful amendments are available HERE. The amendments in a nutshell are listed below.

Win – No forced redundancies for RMS or TfNSW staff

Protects existing staff from forced redundancies for four years.

Win – No Privatisation or outsourcing of RMS or TfNSW work

For the four years following the merger, no work currently performed in-house can be outsourced or privatised and outsourced contracts cannot be extended in scope.

Win – No reduction in staff in regional areas

The staff headcount for TfNSW must not be reduced for four years in regional areas. This includes the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Newcastle and Central Coast.

Win – RMS awards not to be merged

For the next four years, all current RMS awards will be retained. This will protect staff from having their conditions watered down as a result of merging Awards with TfNSW. The terms of the MOU apply in respect of staff voluntarily changing the Award they are covered by, or following consultation with staff and unions where there are common roles between TfNSW and RMS.

Win – Disputes can be taken to the IRC

Any employee(s) who has been materially disadvantaged as a result of the merger is able to have the dispute conciliated or arbitrated by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.

What Does This Mean?

It tells the NSW Government that they need to listen to the concern of your Union in order pass legislation. It says that Union led campaigns to protect jobs and vital public services have a great resonance within the halls of Parliament.

Furthermore, these vital services should be resourced and properly managed by NSW public servants without the spectre of privatisation or threat of job losses.

It means now that throw away lines of made by politicians in the midst of elections campaigns about protecting jobs in the bush now have real meaning.

What Now?

The accepted amendments to the RMS dissolution legislation will be again be heard in the Legislative Assembly for ratification of the bill. Alternatively the NSW Government could continue with the operation of the RMS. The NSW Government spruiked the dissolution of the RMS as a win for customers and NSW.

Denying these amendments now will show NSW communities that it wasn’t about better services, it was about cutting jobs and incorporating privatisations.

Want to Know What the Politicians had to Say?

The Hansard record of debate can be found on pages 45-64 HERE.

This is another great demonstration of the PSA and combined unions work with stakeholders to protect and enhance the job security of our members and provide services to the communities of NSW.

Not a member? Be a part of our campaign and join today HERE.

 

 

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