In February 2018, RTBU members and delegates rallied outside Clifton Hill station in response to attempts by Metro and the Department of Transport to secretly close down crucial control desk operations.
This attack on Members’ jobs, and the associated serious public safety issues, galvanized Members across the Metro network.
Rallies and protest actions, including public leafleting and petitions, were conducted outside key stations targeted in the Clifton Hill area, continuing until the Minister of Transport guaranteed the maintenance of Control Desks at both city and suburban stations.
The potential disastrous consequences if the RTBU had not successfully campaigned to retain Station Control Desks is evident.
As a direct outcome of these efforts by members and delegates, successive Metro EAs (2019 and 2023) have included clauses safeguarding this vital work, now expanded to include control desks at all new Metro Tunnel stations.
This significant campaign victory from 2018 has also served as the foundation for expanding job protection for Station Booking offices during the rollout of the new ticketing system, alongside assurances by the Minister of Transport of “no reduction or replacement of frontline staff, including customer service staff, station staff, authorized officers, and conductors.”
