South Australian train drivers and other rail staff have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Marshall Liberal Government’s new enterprise agreement offer, which provides 2 per cent per annum pay rises over the next 3 years.
In a ‘huge show of support’ for the exceptionally fair and reasonable offer, 85 per cent of the 221 train drivers and other rail staff who voted in the ballot voted for the new enterprise agreement.
Treasurer Rob Lucas welcomed the result as a ‘victory for common sense’.
“We are delighted that our train drivers and other rail staff have accepted what is an exceptionally fair and reasonable offer of 2 per cent per annum pay rises over the next three years, particularly at a time when other jurisdictions are freezing pay rises for public sector employees,” said Mr Lucas.
“We value the work of our rail staff and welcome their overwhelming show of support for the Government’s enterprise agreement offer.”
“This result follows the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) bosses’ unsuccessful campaign to derail negotiations, including the silly threat of strike action, including the potential for drivers to wear union-branded facemasks.
“At one point the union bosses even called for a special taxpayer-funded car wash allowance because their depot at Dry Creek was too dusty. This was never going to fly with the general public.”
The agreement follows similar deals with tram drivers, nurses and teachers.
The Government has applied to the Fair Work Commission for the agreement’s formal approval.
