Bargaining between Aurizon and rail unions on the remaining outstanding Queensland enterprise agreement, the Construction and Maintenance Enterprise Agreement, has now concluded.
Agreement was reached on substantive issues including identical core conditions for the recently negotiated Train Crew and Transport Operators EA:
A 4% pay increase each year for three years, in return for significant productivity enhancements and enhanced work flexibility including modern rostering practices
The removal of the ‘no forced redundancy’ provision
Rail passes will be removed for the majority of employees.
Rail passes held by employees with more than 25 years of service will be valid for long distance travel until 2018.
A small number of other matters remain unresolved between the Company and rail unions in relation to this agreement.
However Aurizon now intends to conduct a formal ballot with employees.
State-wide employee briefing sessions on both the Train Crew and Transport Operators EA and the Construction and Maintenance EA are commencing this week with formal ballots to be held in July.
Pending a positive vote, both agreements would then be lodged with the Fair Work Commission, seeking implementation in August.
Approximately 1,800 employees in Queensland are covered by the Construction and Maintenance EA and 1,700 by the Train Crew and Transport Operators EA.