Farewell Nick Lewocki - Rail, Tram and Bus Union of NSW

Rtbu Secures Improved Conditionsfor Bus CleanersNegotiations have been taking place between the RTBU and STA for a change to the award coverageof bus cleaners. Currently bus cleaners are covered under the Bus Operations Award. The negotiationsare to bring bus cleaners under the Engineering and Maintenance Award.This has been an ongoing matter formany years, and it was agreed inthe last Award negotiations that wewould look at bringing bus cleanersback under the Maintenance Award,rather than the Bus Operations, whichprimarily covers Bus Operators.Unfortunately, the discussions havecreated their own confusion, whichthe union is trying to sort out withthe State Transit Authority (STA).The focus of the negotiationsto transfer bus cleaners to theMaintenance Award are to ensurethat the classifications and careerpaths for bus cleaners benefit presentand future bus cleaners.General negotiations for theEngineering and MaintenanceAward have been completed andcontain a 3.75% wage increase forall employees covered by the award.Bus Cleaners will be aligned tothe classification structure underthe award, and bus cleaners will beplaced in the structure at current orhigher wage levels.Bus Cleaners will also gain slightimprovements in some of the generalconditions under the new award.Measures are being put in place tosafeguard against STA attemptingto reduce any of these conditions forBus Cleaners in future.What Will Change:• The change in Award coveragewill place bus cleaners backinto the maintenance stream,with improved career pathopportunities• Bus cleaners will be requiredto do the same work as theycurrently perform, in line withclassification structure and jobdescriptions• Bus cleaners will continue to berepresented and covered by theRTBUIf members have any questionsabout these changes please contactyour RTBU Depot ExecutiveOfficer or the Union Office on(02) 9319 7277Page 6 raIL & ROAD December 2009