THURSDAY 13 DECEMBER 2001
“Rail & Maritime Transport Union Concerned For Rail Industry In NZ”
“Tranz Rail’s announcement that it has selected Transfield and Alstom as the preferred bidders for it’s Infrastructure
and Motive Power businesses is a further blow to the “Take Back The Track” campaign to retain rail in NZ as a strategic
national asset” says the Union’s General Secretary Wayne Butson.
“More of NZ’s national rail asset will be either closed or sold off with the cash from the sales now being repatriated
to France and Australia as well as the usual USA under the model being pursued by Tranz Rail”.
“The RMTU is totally opposed to the break-up of the single vertically integrated railway as this will cause operators to
focus on the Auckland – Christchurch route in the pursuit of fast easy profits with the regions losing out.”
“The Union presented a 45000 signature petition to Parliament seeking the Government to “Take Back The Track” in the
interests of NZ”
“The Union is concerned that the on-going ability to improve safety, as has happened in Tranz Rail over the last 12
months, will be compromised with more companies engaged in their own private battles to improve their personal
profitability by doing the same or more with less”.
“The Union has and will continue to engage with all of Tranz Rail’s out-sourcing partners in the interest of protecting
our members terms and conditions of employment”, said Wayne Butson
He went on to say “Many of our members have given their best working years to rail through thick and thin and a transfer
of ownership should not be a barrier to completing their working lives in rail – whoever owns it.”
“We have agreed terms of employment with earlier outsourcing partners and look forward to positive negotiations with
Transfield and Alstoms but if we need to have a fight to retain the conditions and rights of members then the RMTU will
deliver”.
Ends