NSW train strife puts relationship between Premier and union boss off the rails
THE train union boss and the NSW Premier seemed to have developed a cosy affinity over seven years. It’s not the same after the current rail bust-up.
NSW
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HE was the straight-talking union boss from Mount Druitt. She was the North Shore banking consultant.
Until last week, NSW Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) boss Alex Claassens and former Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian appeared to have a cosy relationship stretching over seven years.
Apart from grumblings over “hot and itchy” uniforms when Ms Berejiklian decided to spruce up the look of the rail frontline — some female staff also protested about having to wear skirts — the notoriously active union had been largely dormant under Ms Berejiklian’s watch.
But when an 11th-hour crisis meeting was convened as the Fair Work Commission deliberated on the pending industrial action last week, Mr Claassens came face to face with the now Premier for the first time since she took on the job, although her demeanour had changed.
“She looked at me and said: ‘I’m disappointed in you Alex’,” he said.
As one Right faction government source noted last week, Ms Berejiklian’s taming of the union was a factor in the faction endorsing her as Premier.
“She demonstrated that she could consult, and keep the RTBU under control,” the source said.
“Gladys and Alex were so close I wouldn’t have been surprised if they attended each other’s birthday parties. It was one of the reasons we backed her as Premier when the job came up.”
Mr Claassens said he had respected Ms Berejiklian “who like me, still regularly catches public transport, I hear”, for her “open door policy” with the unions.
She had negotiated with the unions directly when the Government moved to privatise ferries.
While the union had met with Transport Minister Andrew Constance when he took over the portfolio, “the meetings dwindled off,” Mr Claassens said, with discussions taken over by the minister’s staff.
The first Mr Claassens heard of a new train timetable that led to his members’ anger was back in March 2017 at a union peak meeting with Transport for NSW directors where it was “mentioned”, only for no further discussions to take place.
While some blame the escalation of union activity to his being up for re-election in June, Mr Claassens, who says he will go back to drive trains should he be voted out, points the finger at Mr Constance.
“With Gladys, there was always an open door policy,” he said. “We used to have monthly meetings.
“They were always at her request, but she was always keen to hear from us. Like me, she regularly caught public transport. You can bet the boy from Bega doesn’t.”
Mr Claassens said he only obtained Mr Constance’s mobile number after the minister sent him a text message as the union leader held a press conference on the crisis last week.
The breakdown in relations appeared to catch the Government by surprise despite the union warning of industrial action months ago.
Rail forums have been deluged with comments from angry rail staff, some even accusing the union of not being active enough.
Mr Claassens said staff had already been grappling with a shortfall of 40 drivers before the Government introduced new services.
Negotiations over pay and conditions between the seven rail unions, which also include those representing white collar engineers and office workers who rarely engage in industrial warfare, will continue over the next six weeks with Mr Claassens to speak to members directly before proceeding with any further industrial action.
His use of a text poll to ask about industrial action was roundly criticised.
Of the text poll, in which less than 6 per cent of members had responded “yes” before moving to proceed with industrial action, Mr Claassens said it was not needed to affirm member anger.
Some members had been demanding pay increases of well beyond the 6 per cent the union was demanding, as compensation for the increased workload from the new timetables, he said.
“I did the poll because I told my members I would and because I was asked, but I didn’t need to do it to know my members were angry,” he said.
“But I will now go back to the old-fashioned way of consulting and speak to everyone direct at the depots before going back to the Government.”
The Sydney Trains offer to its workers includes a 2.75 per cent annual pay rise, a one-off $1000 payment and the extension of free travel using Opal cards — a package valued at 3.45 per cent.
A negotiation meeting is scheduled for Monday week on the wage offer, before union delegates reconvene on Thursday to discuss a depot tour to obtain member feedback.
Some of the fiercest factional rivals of the Left faction believe Mr Constance has handled the crisis well, while Ms Berejiklian has also publicly declared her approval.
“It actually kills me to say it, but I think he’s done a good job in handling the situation,” a Right faction source said. “He stared them down.”