Latest news with #EnterpriseAgreement
Time Out
29-07-2025
- Business
- Time Out
All metro and train services across Sydney and NSW will be free for two days this week
Sydney's train network has had a rough run over the past year, with a series of strung-out disputes between the unions and the NSW Government leading to industrial action, and a whole lot of unhappy commuters. But there's light at the end of the tunnel, with rail workers agreeing this weekend to a new Enterprise Agreement that should bring the disruptions to an end. As an apology to the people of Sydney for the months of chaos, Transport for NSW is offering two full days of fare-free rail (and metro) travel across the state – with the free travel period starting this Thursday (July 31). According to Transport for NSW, more than 2.2 million passengers are expected to take advantage of free journeys across the two days, with the NSW Government encouraging Sydneysiders to make the most of the network and support both Sydney's hospitality scene and regional businesses – without the travel costs. (NB: For NSW TrainLink journeys, you'll still need to book a ticket to secure your seat, and you'll be refunded on the day.) Free travel for two days is a bonus, but the real win here is the renewed stability expected across the NSW train network. After months of negotiations, 92 per cent of rail workers voted in support of the Enterprise Agreement, which will now be lodged with the Fair Work Commission for formal approval. Sydney Trains Chief Executive Matt Longland said the outcome is 'a win for our staff but an even bigger win for the travelling public.' 'With this certainty, Sydney Trains can resume its focus on delivering a safe, reliable, and disruption-free service. Passengers can have renewed confidence that the trains they rely on will be there when they need them,' said Longland. Fare-free travel on all Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink, Airport Link, and Sydney Metro services will apply from 12.01am on Thursday, July 31, until 6am on Saturday, August 2, 2025. Fee travel will not extend to buses, ferries, or light rail services, and passengers using NSW TrainLink services will still need to present a valid ticket to score a refund.
The Advertiser
29-07-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Mining union slams job losses at Dartbrook underground mine in the Upper Hunter
In updated news, more than 100 jobs at the Dartbrook underground coal mine near Aberdeen have been slashed, as workers fight to access their accrued entitlements, the Mining and Energy Union has said. MEU Northern Mining and NSW Energy President Robin Williams said the mine's receivers, FTI Consulting, are cutting the majority of the directly employed workforce without honouring workers' entitlements, and while retaining labour hire contractors. "Just days after assuring us that operations would continue as normal during voluntary administration, FTI Consulting reversed course," Mr Williams said. "We were suddenly told last week that over 100 jobs - nearly two-thirds of the workforce - would be slashed. These include over two-thirds of Dartbrook's EA workers, who have been sacked while FTI still retains labour hire contractors at the site." Mr Williams said the decision was made without proper consultation with workers, in breach of the site's Enterprise Agreement. "Over the weekend, operations were wound down while workers were left in the dark, waiting to hear if they would be required," he said. "Many of them have now been unceremoniously notified by email that they no longer have a job. "This situation has been handled disgracefully. Workers not only facing unemployment, but they've also been told their redundancy entitlements will not be honoured." "This kind of dodgy corporate behaviour is unacceptable. It's hurting families and the local community. "We are committed to using all legal power at our disposal to ensure that Dartbrook workers' entitlements are honoured. The dispute is currently before the Fair Work Commission". In updated news, more than 100 jobs at the Dartbrook underground coal mine near Aberdeen have been slashed, as workers fight to access their accrued entitlements, the Mining and Energy Union has said. MEU Northern Mining and NSW Energy President Robin Williams said the mine's receivers, FTI Consulting, are cutting the majority of the directly employed workforce without honouring workers' entitlements, and while retaining labour hire contractors. "Just days after assuring us that operations would continue as normal during voluntary administration, FTI Consulting reversed course," Mr Williams said. "We were suddenly told last week that over 100 jobs - nearly two-thirds of the workforce - would be slashed. These include over two-thirds of Dartbrook's EA workers, who have been sacked while FTI still retains labour hire contractors at the site." Mr Williams said the decision was made without proper consultation with workers, in breach of the site's Enterprise Agreement. "Over the weekend, operations were wound down while workers were left in the dark, waiting to hear if they would be required," he said. "Many of them have now been unceremoniously notified by email that they no longer have a job. "This situation has been handled disgracefully. Workers not only facing unemployment, but they've also been told their redundancy entitlements will not be honoured." "This kind of dodgy corporate behaviour is unacceptable. It's hurting families and the local community. "We are committed to using all legal power at our disposal to ensure that Dartbrook workers' entitlements are honoured. The dispute is currently before the Fair Work Commission". In updated news, more than 100 jobs at the Dartbrook underground coal mine near Aberdeen have been slashed, as workers fight to access their accrued entitlements, the Mining and Energy Union has said. MEU Northern Mining and NSW Energy President Robin Williams said the mine's receivers, FTI Consulting, are cutting the majority of the directly employed workforce without honouring workers' entitlements, and while retaining labour hire contractors. "Just days after assuring us that operations would continue as normal during voluntary administration, FTI Consulting reversed course," Mr Williams said. "We were suddenly told last week that over 100 jobs - nearly two-thirds of the workforce - would be slashed. These include over two-thirds of Dartbrook's EA workers, who have been sacked while FTI still retains labour hire contractors at the site." Mr Williams said the decision was made without proper consultation with workers, in breach of the site's Enterprise Agreement. "Over the weekend, operations were wound down while workers were left in the dark, waiting to hear if they would be required," he said. "Many of them have now been unceremoniously notified by email that they no longer have a job. "This situation has been handled disgracefully. Workers not only facing unemployment, but they've also been told their redundancy entitlements will not be honoured." "This kind of dodgy corporate behaviour is unacceptable. It's hurting families and the local community. "We are committed to using all legal power at our disposal to ensure that Dartbrook workers' entitlements are honoured. The dispute is currently before the Fair Work Commission". In updated news, more than 100 jobs at the Dartbrook underground coal mine near Aberdeen have been slashed, as workers fight to access their accrued entitlements, the Mining and Energy Union has said. MEU Northern Mining and NSW Energy President Robin Williams said the mine's receivers, FTI Consulting, are cutting the majority of the directly employed workforce without honouring workers' entitlements, and while retaining labour hire contractors. "Just days after assuring us that operations would continue as normal during voluntary administration, FTI Consulting reversed course," Mr Williams said. "We were suddenly told last week that over 100 jobs - nearly two-thirds of the workforce - would be slashed. These include over two-thirds of Dartbrook's EA workers, who have been sacked while FTI still retains labour hire contractors at the site." Mr Williams said the decision was made without proper consultation with workers, in breach of the site's Enterprise Agreement. "Over the weekend, operations were wound down while workers were left in the dark, waiting to hear if they would be required," he said. "Many of them have now been unceremoniously notified by email that they no longer have a job. "This situation has been handled disgracefully. Workers not only facing unemployment, but they've also been told their redundancy entitlements will not be honoured." "This kind of dodgy corporate behaviour is unacceptable. It's hurting families and the local community. "We are committed to using all legal power at our disposal to ensure that Dartbrook workers' entitlements are honoured. The dispute is currently before the Fair Work Commission".
7NEWS
18-07-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Union takes action against Commonwealth Bank for alleged ‘sham' redundancies
Action has been launched against the country's biggest bank over claims it carried out 'sham' redundancies in Australia to take advantage of cheap overseas labour. The Commonwealth Bank announced in June it was making 304 roles across its technology and retail departments redundant. But the Finance Sector Union argues the CBA breached the Enterprise Agreement when it was 'caught' advertising the same jobs at its Indian subsidiary in Bangalore, India. The union said 110 of the roles advertised to be based at CBA India had the same job title as those involved in the redundancies. 'By hiring for the same job, at their own Indian subsidiary, they're showing themselves to have breached the Enterprise Agreement and essentially lied to their workers,' FSU national secretary Julia Angrisano said. 'This is the very definition of bad faith.' According to Clause 36 of the EBA, redundancies can occur if work is no longer required, needs to be done at a different location which is not within a reasonable commuting distance, or if the role is restructured so that some or all of the duties of the position are split up between one or more other positions. 'Sham redundancy action' The union said its members had been left 'outraged' and is taking its claims to the Fair Work Commission. 'We do not believe that the redundancies outlined in these change processes are in fact genuine redundancies and that in doing so, CBA has breached the terms of the Agreement,' Angrisano said. 'These jobs are not required to be done in India, they're just moving the work there to take advantage of cheaper labour and further line their own pockets.' Angrisano said Australian taxpayers are 'paying for the sham redundancy action'. 'Bona fide redundancies are taxed concessionally in the hands of the workers. It is especially disgusting that the nation's richest company is also reducing the tax take as it makes the final payment to hundreds of Australians that we know are being sacked solely to have their work performed offshore,' Angrisano said The Commonwealth Bank said the FSU 'did not raise any concerns' about like-for-like job changes during formal consultation, and said there 'is no basis to their allegations'. 'Like many organisations, we regularly review how we are organised to deliver the best experiences and outcomes for our customers,' a bank spokesperson said. 'We have been transparent in communicating workforce shifts with our technology team over the last three years. 'This includes being explicit about roles which are declining and offering reskilling and upskilling opportunities to people in those roles.' The union savaged the CBA in March for slashing more than 150 jobs shortly after revealing a $2.6 billion quarterly profit.
Sky News AU
18-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Commonwealth Bank of Australia taken to Fair Work Commission by Finance Sector Union for allegedly offshoring hundreds of jobs to its subsidiary CBA India
Australia's largest company has been taken to court for allegedly breaching a contract by outsourcing hundreds of local jobs to India. The Finance Sector Union said it has commenced action in the Fair Work Commission against Commonwealth Bank of Australia for allegedly breaching the CBA Enterprise Agreement. CBA has been accused of defying Clause 36 of the agreement which defines redundancy. Redundancy can occur, according to the clause, if the work is no longer required, the work is required to be done at a different location that is not within reasonable commuting distance or if the work is restructured so that the tasks are split up to other positions. The FSU said the bank informed the union on June 10 that 304 redundancies across technology and retail banking jobs were taking place, while it was recruiting for about 100 jobs for CBA India. About 110 of the jobs impacted by the redundancies had a job ad based in India with the same job title, the FSU says. These include positions such as senior software engineers, staff data engineer, staff software engineer, engineering manager, software engineer and senior data engineer. FSU national secretary Julia Angrisano tore into the major bank for its action and said it had caused "outrage" amongst its members. "By hiring for the same job, at their own Indian subsidiary, they're showing themselves to have breached the Enterprise Agreement and essentially lied to their workers," Ms Angrisano said in a statement. "This is the very definition of bad faith." She said the redundancies were "proof" the big banks have a preference for offshoring Australian jobs to boost their bottom lines. "These jobs are not required to be done in India; they're just moving the work there to take advantage of cheaper labour and further line their own pockets," Ms Angrisano said. 'All Australians are paying for the sham redundancy actions of the CBA. "Not only are Australian workers being unfairly and reasonably sacked but this is being subsidised by all taxpayers. Bona fide redundancies are taxed concessionally in the hands of the workers. "It is especially disgusting that the nation's richest company is also reducing the tax take as it makes the final payment to hundreds of Australians that we know are being sacked solely to have their work performed offshore.' A CBA spokesperson rejected the union's claims and said it had met with representatives to "assure them that there is no basis to their allegations". "During the formal consultation on recent workforce changes, the FSU did not raise any concerns with us about like-for-like job changes," the spokesperson said. The CBA spokesperson earlier on Friday said no dispute had been filed with the Fair Work Commission, however, she has since acknowledged the action has been lodged. The lastest row between the FSU and CBA follows the union attacking the bank for slashing more than 150 roles just days after revealing a $2.6 billion quarterly profit. It also comes after the FSU demanding answers from CBA over the axing of 164 jobs from the bank's technology division. Just weeks after this, the FSU hit out over plans to axe 90 roles at CBA's subsidiary Bankwest.
7NEWS
07-07-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Commuters to receive 48 hours free train travel as Minns government celebrates new deal with rail workers
Residents and those visiting New South Wales will soon enjoy 48 hours of free travel on all trains within the state as the Minns Government celebrates the successful rail Enterprise Agreement. More than a million metro and regional train passengers across NSW will travel free for two days on Thursday, July 31 and Friday, August 1, the NSW government announced on Sunday. The move, however, is not just an altruistic gesture, with the government using the opportunity to apologise to local business who were 'strained to breaking point' during a 'period of protected industrial action'. Transport Minister John Graham said the government is urging passengers to use the free fare to support local business and offer them a 'shot in the arm'. 'We want to acknowledge the period of protected industrial action took its toll on rail passengers,' he said. 'Today, we also look forward with optimism to a train system that will benefit from the entire workforce and management pulling in the same direction and the introduction of new technology to improve reliability and recovery times when disruption occurs. 'We will continue to invest record amounts into improved maintenance and work to our plan to lift the level of reliability.' The rail Enterprise Agreement received the overwhelming support of the rail workforce in a ballot that closed on Saturday, the government said. More than 11,700 employees participated in the vote, with 92 per cent supporting the Enterprise Agreement, which will now be lodged with the Fair Work Commission for formal approval. The decision comes after months of fighting between the state government and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW over pay. The government said resolution of the matter will allow Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink and the combined rail workforce to focus solely on improving reliability and services for passengers. Win for rail staff The fare-free 48 hours is an 'invitation to workers' to travel into the Sydney or Parramatta CBDs, or other work and commercial centres across the state, to support the food and hospitality businesses that took a hit during months of disruption. Sydney Trains Chief Executive, Matt Longland, said the new agreement was a win for rail staff. 'This is a win for our staff, but an even bigger win for the travelling public,' he said. 'With this certainty, Sydney Trains can resume its focus on delivering a safe, reliable, and disruption-free service. Passengers can have renewed confidence that the trains they rely on will be there when they need them.' From 12.01am Thursday, July 31 to 11.59pm on Friday, August 1, travel will be free on all Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink, Airport Link, and Sydney Metro services. Opal gates and readers will be turned off during the fare free period, and passengers will not need to tap on and tap off. People who have bought tickets on NSW TrainLink services during the fare free period will be refunded. Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said recent disruption hit parts of rural and regional NSW hard. 'Regional passengers deserve this relief, and I encourage everyone to take full advantage of these two days by hopping aboard and seeing what our regional areas have to offer,' She said. 'These fare-free days are just the beginning of getting our regional rail network back on track, ensuring regional commuters get the reliable services they deserve.'
