EA update - 11 November

Dear team

This week we put a further proposal to the Combined Rail Unions (CRU) on the new Enterprise Agreement, following a counter offer proposed by the CRU on 4 November 2022.

The proposal we put to the CRU reiterated the wide range of improved terms and conditions we have shared with you previously. It emphasised our desire to put the Enterprise Agreement to an employee vote as soon as possible, so that you can have your say.

Today we received notification that the CRU have rejected our proposal.

We are disappointed that the CRU have rejected this proposal, which offers certainty and benefits for our people. We understand the CRU are working on a counter offer, which we will take the time to consider once we are provided with the details.

Getting to a vote

We made an undertaking to the Fair Work Commission that we would not go to a vote before there is an outcome in the Unions’ good faith bargaining application to the Fair Work Commission. We had hoped to bring the vote to you earlier with the agreement of the CRU, unfortunately we have not been able to reach agreement to allow that to happen.

We expect to hear the outcome of the Unions’ good faith bargaining application in the next few weeks.

We will keep you updated as things progress and will provide information about next steps for the Enterprise Agreement process as we know more.

Take care

Pete & Dale