Rail union says drivers forced to remain on trains - ABC Online

Posted February 11, 2013 10:29:54

The Rail Tram and Bus Union has accused Pacific National of forcing four Hunter coal train drivers to remain on their trains for more than 19 hours.

About 800 union members walked off the job last Friday over a pay dispute.

The union claims the drivers were told their jobs would be in jeopardy if they left their trains on Newcastle's Kooragang Island and at the Bengalla Mine in the Hunter Valley.

Union spokesman Steve Wright says Pacific National told the drivers that because there was nowhere for the trains to be safely stowed they would have to stay on board.

"The train crew had to stay on that train and were refused to be allowed to come off that train," he said.

"When they asked if they could leave the train, the company informed them if they did their employment would be in jeopardy.

"Those two drivers on that train ended up having 20 hours on that train before the rail regulator stepped in and enforced the train could be stowed in that location."

Pacific National has issued a statement saying due to its operating accreditation the trains could only remain in position on the network with crew onboard.

It says it approached the union but they were not interested in finding a solution or in the welfare of their members on the two trains.

Pacific National says it then worked with the Australian Rail Track Corporation and the rail safety regulator to find a means by which the crew could be removed and the trains remain safe.

Topics: industrial-relations, rail-transport, unions, newcastle-2300, kooragang-2304, muswellbrook-2333