500 signatures reached
To: Federal Transport Minister Catherine King MP and State Counterparts
Respect for Rail Workers
For 195 years, Australians have relied on our rail safety workers to keep our nation moving. Their vital work protects us, and ensures our nation's passenger and freight networks operate. Yet they are too often ignored, disregarded, and disrespected by industry, regulators, and governments.
The latest insult comes from Australia’s chief rail safety regulator, The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR). It recently created new rail safety consultation guidelines, without even consulting the workers represented by the main rail manufacturing and maintenance union, the AMWU. The irony is not lost on members.
The AMWU wrote to ONRSR requesting a reset, proper engagement, and an enforceable code of conduct. Instead, the regulator published its consultation guidance.
Enough is enough. Australia’s rail workers deserve respect, and the public deserve a safe rail network. They should not have to rely on an unaccountable regulator that fails to engage with the people most affected by rail safety decisions. ADD YOUR NAME TO THIS PETITION calling on Transport Ministers to require ONRSR to respect rail safety workers and their unions, withdraw its consultation guidelines, and work with the AMWU to develop an enforceable code of conduct for genuine consultation.
Why is this important?
Dear Minister,
Rail safety cannot be delivered unless workers who do the jobs every day are properly engaged and consulted before safety decisions are made. Poor safety decisions in heavy rail can lead to a catastrophe, including loss of life. Rail safety workers have a crisis of confidence in ONRSR, made worse by ONRSR developing guidance on consultation without consulting workers.
I call on you to require ONRSR to:
- stop disregarding its functions under the Rail Safety National Law, including its responsibility to work with rail safety workers;
- follow its own strategic direction by cultivating strong, collaborative relationships with key stakeholders such as AMWU members; and
- withdraw its consultation guidelines and meet with the AMWU and rail safety workers to create a clear, enforceable code of conduct for genuine consultation.
ONRSR’s actions show rail safety workers that they are not respected or regarded as stakeholders worthy of engagement. I call on your leadership to fix this approach and ensure workers’ insights are genuinely considered in decisions about rail safety.