Chapter 6: - Rail, Tram and Bus Union of NSW

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*On Wooden Rails Chapter 6 8/30/05 8:50 PM Page 222 On Wooden Rails - Celebrating 150 Years of Work on the NSW Railways Working the Olympics Nikki and Tina started on the job just before the Olympics. Nikki in October 1999, and Tina in the Australia Day intake in 2000. At the time of the Olympics they were based at Homebush. They describe it as the most amazing time. “Working the Olympics was great – people from everywhere, a lot of different ethnic groups and languages – no problems – they were there to watch their teams and have fun. Events results would be announced through the train, people were singing their national songs and cheering. Wall to people – amazing to experience people in that setting. Their behaviour was so different compared to say football drunks and louts after a rugby match– people were so well behaved and civilised. There was a change immediately afterwards – it was like the drugs wore off – people went back to being aggro again.” Nikki describes it as a genuinely proud ‘moment’. “The fact that we blitzed it in terms of public transport – everything went without any obvious hitch – we were proud being a part of that. We did it! The feeling of getting through it and doing it so well and then we got the Minister for Transport Carl Scully coming out and giving us medals and certificates of appreciation. It’s the only time I’d seen any decent recognition of the job. It felt good.” They continue to enjoy their work experience and being able to share it with each other. “Working in the same job is great– we both benefit and support each other– we talk work. Check each other’s rosters – go to work together or meet up for lunch”. Nikki is an only child and the two have always shared a close relationship, and now their work adds to it. “We don’t have any problem spending the extra time together, it’s even improved our relationship. Not everyone sees the positives; they see us and often see ‘double trouble.’ Its great fun”. In Case of Emergency – Rebecca Ferguson Rebecca Ferguson is a Senior Fire Equipment Officer with State Rail Fire Service. She works as a part of a small dedicated team of ten 3 Interview with Rebecca Ferguson, May 2003 222 people. The Fire Service was reinstated a few years ago after being disbanded. With the support of the NSW Fire Brigade and the Firefighters Union, the Service was reestablished in State Rail. Rebecca is the first woman to be employed in the role, which has traditionally been a male-dominated job. We are responsible for fire safety and management in the City Underground system, responding to fire, toxic substances, terrorism, and a range of other situations. Our work includes responsibility for the fire management system, monitoring / isolation of detectors, isolating sectors where maintenance or other work is being carried out, hot work permit issues, and any ordinary incident in the rail network. With the recent bombings on the Spanish railways and the London Underground, the job takes on a renewed significance as railway systems around the world look to improving security against such attacks. Rebecca is a relative newcomer to the industry. She has worked in State Rail for about 5 years. One year as a Customer Service Attendant, and the past 4 years with the State Rail Fire Service. She’d worked in a few jobs before joining State Rail, both while she was at school and after leaving school. She was looking for something challenging, with variety and responsibility – “a job that I could grow and develop in. I had completed qualifications in fire fighting, and when the job in Fire Services came up I jumped at it. I haven’t been disappointed- it is an interesting job with a great group of people.” 3 Prior to starting with State rail, Rebecca had previously done a number of what you might Rebecca Ferguson describe as traditionally ‘feminine’ jobs. “These were interesting jobs with their good and bad points, but my job with Fire Services really is fantastic. It’s a diverse job with a lot of variety and responsibility, the money is good and the conditions suit my lifestyle. ….One of the positive aspects of the job is that I have been able, and encouraged to develop a range of skills and knowledge, through study and through the experience of my colleagues on-the-job. It is a great opportunity to pick up a range of new and useful skills.” Chapter 6 - No Place for a Woman
*On Wooden Rails Chapter 6 8/30/05 8:50 PM Page 223 An entry requirement is to have completed the Certificate II in Fire Fighting Operations. Rebecca completed this qualification through the NSW Fire Brigade. Once in the job there is a range of training and skills development that is required before you are able to perform the work. These include safeworking, electrical hazards, sub-station entry, gas detection operation, highrail, and first aid. The team works a 10/14 roster where we do 2 ten hour day shifts, then 2 fourteen hour night shifts, followed by four days off. “This wouldn’t suit everyone, but I found that once I got used to the hours and the body clock adjusted, it suits my lifestyle. I live in the country, and manage to get time to do things on the property and with my life, and so my time can be balanced between work and family and social commitments.” Rebecca has no hesitation in saying that she would recommend work in the industry generally and certainly within the Fire Service. “While the industry may have changed over the years through restructures and other changes, there are a lot of positive opportunities for people entering the industry. There may not be the guaranteed ‘job for life’ as there was in the past, but where does this exist nowadays. There is however, a range of opportunities where people can map out their own careers, learn new skills and get paid reasonable money to do interesting work. The opportunity exists to gain formal training and on-the-job skills and experience that can be used for progress within the industry as well as transferable to other jobs and industries.” Rebecca is also involved in the government’s ‘spokeswoman program’ and has found satisfaction in being able to speak with people and offer advice and information on a range of issues. Many of these are union issues, where I can either advise or refer people to the appropriate Union source for information. She has also started to become more involved in the Union and would like to be more involved in future, and look forward to doing some of the Union training courses in the near future. “I have had family members who have been strong unionists and have impressed upon me the historical gains and benefits of unions and the roles that they can play in helping other people in different ways”….I see the Union as providing a source of empowerment to members through awareness, information and other resources. When you have reliable information you are less likely to be fooled or deceived in your work and you On Wooden Rails - Celebrating 150 Years of Work on the NSW Railways have much greater control over your work life.” The concepts of teamwork and trust are ones that we often hear in relation to most areas of work. Rarely are both achieved, however, Rebecca provides an insight and hope in the way her workplace operates. In other ways she describes an informal relationship that has existed in many rail workplaces for a long time. “ The Fire Services team is a tight and close unit, that spends a lot of time together. It is almost like a mini-family in some ways, and we have our squabbles and differences, but when things get tough you know you can trust and depend on the team to be there to back you up and to look out for you. The nature of the work is such that in a dangerous situation you are putting your personal safety and sometimes your life in the hands of the team. That requires an incredible trust and respect of the team members.” The Williamson Sisters Following railway and Werris Creek tradition, but with a gendered twist is the Williamson sisters. There are six of them, all from Werris Creek, and all but one followed their train driver father into the railways. Marsha and Lesley are the remaining two still on the job. Marsha joined the telegraphy section in Werris Creek in 1966, and Lesley followed a dozen years later. The two sisters are currently working with ARTC in Newcastle, Werris Creek Station Chapter 6 - No Place for a Woman 223
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Chapter 6: - Rail, Tram and Bus Union of NSW

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