NSW Rail, Tram and Bus Union demand shorts for rail workers

Rail workers are demanding the NSW government allow them to wear shorts instead of long pants amid ongoing concerns about heat stress.

Rail workers are demanding the NSW government allow them to wear shorts instead of long pants amid ongoing concerns about heat stress.

The demand by the ­“shunters” is contained in a log of claims the NSW Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) has put to the government to improve conditions for workers in a dispute that is set to escalate this week.

On Tuesday, rail workers will refuse to drive foreign-made trains as they demand the government tear up its regional fleet contract with the same Spanish company that built the crack-ridden inner west light rail carriages.

RTBU NSW Secretary Alex Claassens. Picture: AAP

The demand for shorts follows concerns among workers — many of whom work outdoors — about overheating, especially in sweltering conditions in summer.

A union spokeswoman said rail workers were not “fashion models”, and should be allowed to do their job without overheating.

“As a union, our number one priority is safety. If we thought there was any safety risk to workers wearing shorts, we wouldn’t ask for it. But the real safety risk is workers overheating in sometimes sweltering conditions,” she said.

“Rail workers aren’t there to be fashion models — we’re there to do a job, and we should be allowed to do that comfortably and safely.

“The idea that workers should always wear long pants is a ridiculous idea that has no relevance these days, particularly when we’re talking about rail workers.”

Rail workers used to be able to wear shorts until the bureaucracy insisted they wear long pants as part of a new uniform, she said.

An even bigger headache for the government is the demand to tear up its contract with a Spanish company to manufacture a new fleet of trains to run throughout regional NSW.

RTBU NSW Secretary Alex Claassens said for the NSW government to push ahead

with the contract in the wake of the light rail issues would be “irresponsible”.

“The NSW government needs to put a hold on all overseas manufacturing contracts,” he said.

“Workers have had grave safety concerns about these new trains even before we knew about the company’s shocking track record.”

He said the new fleet was designed to be built in such a way that the front carriage would be at risk of derailment should it hit a fallen tree or an animal on the tracks.

Mr Claassens said it was his understanding the government had signed a contract, but the final design had not yet been agreed to.

He added that the government needed to implement a quota on Australian-built infrastructure while putting commuter and worker safety first.

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