Campaign - SAVE OUR STRATFORD OKAHUKURA LINE

Our Save Our SOL campaign is gearing up and it is time to get behind it by gaining signatures on petitions that are asking the Minister of Transport "to instruct KiwiRail to repair, maintain and USE the SOL".

Clear here for full details and to download the petition

Press Releases:

Advisory: Make our trains at home, say rail workers

Media Advisory: Rail and Maritime Transport Union Friday 26 February, 2010

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) is using an open day at Hutt Rail workshops this Sunday to urge KiwiRail to back the New Zealand workforce and ‘buy kiwi made’ in its upcoming locomotive and wagon procurement.

KiwiRail is in the market for new locomotives and wagons, and rail workers in New Zealand want the company to commit to building new locomotives and wagons here, rather than upgrading older stock from overseas, RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson said.

Details of the Open Day:

What: Hutt Workshops Open Day, to highlight the work they currently do and what they are capable of doing to build New Zealand locomotives and wagons.

Where: Hutt Workshops, Woburn, entrance via the Bell Road gate.

When: Sunday 28 February 2010, from 11am until 4pm.  NB: Alternative date if poor weather is 7th March 2010.

Ends.

For further information: RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson on (04) 473-6693 or (027) 496-2461

Locomotive engineer shortages can only be fixed with training

Media Release: Rail and Maritime Transport Union Thursday 25 February, 2010

A dedicated commitment to training up the New Zealand rail engineering workforce is the only realistic way of combating the lure of higher wages in Australia that is threatening the industry, the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) said today.

“Australian wages for locomotive engineers are almost double and a recent recruitment drive is now beginning to hit the industry hard here in New Zealand,” RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson said.

“KiwiRail is experiencing locomotive engineer shortages, and the best long-term fix to this is a dedicated training programme to up-skill New Zealand rail workers in related trades, many of whom would welcome the chance to train as a locomotive engineer.”

“High unemployment in New Zealand also means that a crown entity like KiwiRail should be looking at home for solutions to job shortages, rather than recruiting locomotive engineers from overseas.” 

“Overseas recruitment remains a band aid solution, and we will continue to advocate for a ongoing training programme in New Zealand for locomotive engineers,” Wayne Butson said.

Ends.

For further comment: RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson on (04) 473-6693 or (027) 496-2461

National’s ACC cuts will rip off workers

Media Release for IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday 12 February 2010

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union says latest moves to cut back on ACC cover for injured workers amount to the stripping back of a public asset ahead of privatisation.

“ACC works for injured Kiwis, and we want to keep it that way,” RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson said today, following the release of a select committee report considering ACC legislation changes.

“The National government is attempting to portray ACC as in financial trouble and in need of major reform, despite advice from PricewaterhouseCoopers and others about how efficient and cost effective a scheme ACC is.”

Click here for the Full Media Release

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The New Zealand Locomotive Engineer's
Sickness, Accident and Death Benefit Fund:

A new advertisement for the LE SAD Fund that can be downloaded, printed and posted on noticeboards for LE's Click here to download the poster and Download application form