Rail, Tram and Bus Union WA Branch in Perth, Western Australia | Trade union

Rail, Tram and Bus Union WA Branch

Locality: Perth, Western Australia

Phone: +61 8 9225 6722

Address: Unit 2/10 Nash Street 6000 Perth, WA, Australia

Website: https://www.rtbuwa.asn.au

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25.01.2022 Near Quarrading May 2020

24.01.2022 George Kelly: President SW, and the new RTBU WA pin-up boy

24.01.2022 Well its done, the EDI Downer EBA has been voted in by a very large majority.Its not bad, well above industry average. ARC are now due and we are starting the ARTC agreement also.Thanks to all who have contributed.

23.01.2022 The meeting about Tier 3 is going ahead on the 24th, August in Kulin. The RTBU WA will be there and give it 100%!

22.01.2022 Yesterday I spoke in Parliament about the need to come together, both at state and federal level, to turn Western Australia into a sustainable powerhouse for ma...nufacturing by working smarter, not harder. Oh, and it reminded me about how close we are to making significant steps forward on our rail infrastructure! I love trains and so do Western Australians. Lets travel to the future Western Australians deserve. Rail, Tram and Bus Union WA Branch

20.01.2022 https://www.facebook.com/136215473188212/posts/1882836595192749/

19.01.2022 Welcome to our new Face Book page. As a freight rail union we cover a massive geographic foot print. From our North and across the South Australia border, our members cover a massive area. The intent of this page is to bring our members together. Its your page and a celebration of your professionalism and contribution to your family and this state. As your Secretary, again welcome and "all aboard!"

19.01.2022 Our latest response to the new port design

18.01.2022 Well it’s done, the Tier 3 grain network report into engineering and costs of reopening. This report has not been made public yet so I can not comment until late next week.This has been a huge campaign for us and we have operated above our capacity. I know there are a lot of people sweating on this report, it’s been highly anticipated. Agonis have done a very detailed report and I thank them for a brilliant document-there is certainly plenty to read. I will post a brief soon as the Transport Minister gives me the green light. Craig

16.01.2022 I am proud to table a petition in Western Australian Parliament this week, supporting the re-opening of Tier 3 rail lines in regional Western Australia. This pe...tition comes as the State Government announces today that it is preparing a business case to secure half a billion dollars in federal funding. This announcement is a step forward after years of campaigning to get freight back on rail and reverse the decades of vast amounts of spending on road infrastructure, leaving century-old rail networks that could perform much of the freight to be neglected. The community call has been led by the Wheatbelt Railway Retention Alliance’s Jane Fuchsbichler, as the principal petitioner. Western Australians love trains and I will continue to support these strong community efforts towards funding and action as this business case progresses. Save Grain on Rail Rail, Tram and Bus Union WA Branch Fremantle Road to Rail Campaign

15.01.2022 Had a very productive meeting with Macurther Minerals today. They are very appreciative of what we have been doing politicaly to clear a pathway for them. This company are not interested in trucks they want rail. Whilst I can not say too much we are now looking at serious tonnage back loading out of Freo North Quay. This project gets bigger by the month. Getting that dedicated Freo rail bridge built will be real winner. Craig

15.01.2022 The Agonis report suggests a complete rebuild of tier 3. Concrete sleepers, metal ballast, and heavy rail. Steel sleepers for sidings. At the moment, the York/ Quairading line and Narrogin/Corrigin line are considered favorites. A submission has been lodged to Infrastructure Australia for funding. Only about $500 million. The State government is very keen on this project to get underway. As a union, we will be pushing for local jobs and local content. Where possible, we would like the jobs to come from the wheat belt community.

15.01.2022 We are currently in a major court battle with Aurizon. We believe that one of our delegates has been hunted down. Last Friday we won our injunction order against Aurizon in the Federal court. Big thanks to Cory, Jason and Head office. This one is going to get real big.... Craig

15.01.2022 We had a good meeting yesterday with Aurizon management regarding the wagon bogie issue at Geraldton. We did differ on a number of issues but we all agreed that we need the business to remain strong and everyone needs to be safe. So on this basis we will sort it out. Our members need to be careful and take their time, I am sure there will be some follow up meetings but we are getting there. Thanks to all. Craig

14.01.2022 Great News has just come through, CBH directors have just voted to pursue the reopening of Tier 3 during their board meeting tonight. I was at a meeting of the directors last night, the debate was quite vigorous but I and a few others put up a good argument. Bit worried about this today but now very relieved-onwards and upwards.

13.01.2022 I talk a lot about regeneration, but over the last two decades, our regional farmers have seen degeneration in the infrastructure used to transport their produc...tion. Last week the McGowan Labor Government announced a business case is to be prepared for Tier 3 grain lines, giving hope to farmers who have campaigned for 14 years for these lines to be restored. As a result of this announcement, I will be looking for a process that involves the farmers affected in order to prioritise the lines to be restored, in order to best-reflect a list that satisfies the Wheatbelt Railway Retention Alliance. State and federal governments spend vast amounts on road infrastructure, while century-old rail networks that could perform much of the freight task, have been neglected. The southern wheatbelt region has the highest road toll in all of Australia and with intrastate regional road travel likely to reach the highest levels in history as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has never been a more important time to take action on road safety. If WA Labor is genuine about jobs and recovery as our state transitions through this pandemic, it will exercise its power to restore the state’s rail networks, beginning with the reclamation of Tier 3 lines from appalling neglect. Save Grain on Rail

12.01.2022 BUSINESS CASE TO BE PREPARED FOR TIER 3 LINES Today I released an independent engineering assessment outlining the estimated cost of restoring sections of the ...Wheatbelt’s Tier 3 rail network. Every time I visit the Wheatbelt I hear from the community about how important the Tier 3 rail lines are. We are committed to investigating any initiatives that could increase safety by reducing the number of trucks on roads in regional WA - so earlier this year we commissioned an engineering report into the viability of re-opening the Tier 3 lines. While the engineering report confirms restoring the entire network would involve significant costs, there are arguably specific lines where the cost of investment could be offset by ongoing commercial and community benefits such as reduced truck volumes on local roads and cost savings to farmers. We’ll now work, in collaboration with CBH Group and Arc Infrastructure, on business cases to Infrastructure Australia examining the full costs and benefits of rail investment proposals on Tier 1, 2 and 3 lines. Submission of business cases to Infrastructure Australia could lay the groundwork for potential future funding partnerships with the Federal Government for rail freight investment. Significant funding contributions from the Federal Government - as per other major regional infrastructure projects - would be required for any potential Tier 3 restoration work in the future. A copy of the engineering report is available here: https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/Freight/freight-on-rail.asp

11.01.2022 Reopen the Tier 3 grain lines. Addressing a gathering of over 200 at Kulin on monday.

11.01.2022 Our newest Arc Picton members.

11.01.2022 Thanks to Steve Mcartney AMWU for supporting RTBU WA campaign to bring back the trains on tier 3

10.01.2022 Well I will have to mobilse the tie tommorow. I have been summoned to parliament for a Tier 3 brief. We will go over the engineering report and do the hand shakes. Nearly a year of campaigning and its make or break. It will go public a short time later. Craig

09.01.2022 Andrew Bruton of MacArthur Minerals contacted me today for our regular update, Lake Giles iron project 150 km west of Menzies area. We still have a few obstacles in our way. I have a few good contacts in high levels of Government that can help me on this one. Made good progress today, I think we can get this sorted. Too much at stake for this to fall over.

09.01.2022 Again Dianne Evers going in to bat for Western Australian rail

08.01.2022 We have Aurizon trialing 14-day brake tests in two depots. The question is to be asked, how do we justify going from 2 days to 14 days? Aurizon tells us that they need to nationalise the standard because that is what we do in Queensland. I agree, let's get Queensland to undertake 2-day brake tests. WA does not have the finances and resources of Queensland. I think we can safely assume this is a cost only undertaking. Of course, it's the driver that takes on this additional ...responsibility and liability at 0200 in the morning. It should be noted earlier this week we had a derailment on the standard gauge near Southern Cross. Whilst the details are vague, it does involve rolling stock. The RTBU WA branch is not done with this. See more

08.01.2022 Driving to Quarading and Nangarin tommorow, tier 3 grain line meeting. Also our motion in State Executive for an independent study into the cost of closure to tier 3 and how it has impacted the state is expected to be passed in the morning.

07.01.2022 Rail instead of truck is what we stand for here at RTBU WA. Watch WA branch secretary Craig McKinleys argument on "Crossfire" debate at WAMN News Online!

07.01.2022 Our Tier 3 campaign is getting some serious traction. Another article will run on Farmers Weekly this week. I have been meeting this week with quite a few politicians to gather support. The RTBU WA had a motion passed by State Executive requiring the government to progress a financial impact study into the T 3 closures. A big thanks to Diane Evers Greens MLC who present our case in the upper house for about 20 mins. Thanks Also to Rita Saffioti Transport Minister who has commission an engineering team to evaluate the T 3 lines. Tomorrow I have been invited to present T 3 on a Government post economic stimulus think tank.

06.01.2022 We have been very busy dealing with a mess at Aurizon Geraldton. It seems that the main pin which keeps the bogie attached to the iron ore wagons on the Katara fleets are missing. This means the bogies slide away from chassis. This is the company that are currently trying to use these fleets to trial 14 day brake testing. It's now the drivers who have to walk the fleets and try to check these wagon before and after loading. The drivers need to stay safe while we try and work through this mess. It's so bad it's embarrassing.

06.01.2022 500 Beanies arrived today. A gift to my brilliant members.

05.01.2022 Thanks Hon. Ms. Dianne Evers MLC Green Southwest WA.

04.01.2022 Its official! The Tier 3 meeting is going ahead in Kulin on the 24th, August. Watch the story from 05:58 mark.

04.01.2022 There is a clay mine starting up at Wickipin about about 150000 tonnes per year and its on top of our tier 3 line we are trying to open. Exported via Kwinana. Never let a chance go by....