Another bingle in the Pilbara

pm1225 · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 1:17 pm

pilbara_sam/PI_dash_9 do you guys know if the locomotives damaged at Greenpool will be hauled to Perth for rebuilding and if so any idea of when or will they be repaired at 7 Mile?

PI_Dash_9 · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:05 pm

I gather your serious and aren't exaggerating about the lack of training, if this is the case do they send the new guys out to the mines and get them to drive loaded trains back? I can't see how a railcar driver could get a loaded train home without pulling a train apart or running away through lack of experience, or do they give them instructions on how to drive the trains, ie certain power notch at a certain km peg, where to use dyno etc? I can't see how you can justify minimal training when you lose millions in accidents.[/quote]

Mate we are deadly serious. They do actually get to go to each mine when they are training, but they do not know the road and are not assessed to every mine. They have notes and maps that say shut throttle here, put brake on here e.t.c. Put in a speed restriction and they are in a bit of trouble. They have ATP to stop them at signals if they can't do it themselves, unless of course they over ride it which happened recently. Train controller had to stop them about 3.5 kms into the section. They didn't even know they had exceeded their LOA or done anything wrong. Just lucky there wasn't another train in the section or high rail. The report said that they "inadvertently" over rode the system. Don't know how when the computer asks you twice if you are sure you want to over ride it. They snap a few here and there, and the ATP stops a lot of runaways no doubt.

I'd say that some bean counter has done the figures and have factored in the risks versus profits and it is worth the risk. You have to remember that this company is currently enjoying profits of almost $2.8 billion per month. So as long as they have a bum in the seat, the ore is getting to the port and only a couple of major incidents a year then who gives a s**t, apparently it is worth the risk of our lives.

PI_Dash_9 · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:59 pm

Wickam, mate I can understand how you guys are a bit dubious about the union considering things that have happened in the past, those days are gone and will never return. However the only way it can end up a waste of time and down the toilet is if we don't all stand up and get behind it. You have to remember that WE are the union, you, me and every other employee. Without members there is no union. There is no light horse brigade that is going to gallop in here and save us, we have to do it ourselves and the only way we can achieve this is with a healthy member base and the support and backing of those members.

We can sit here and whine all day about how we are being screwed, but that will achieve nothing. We need to put our hands up and say NO we aren't taking this lying down. If we don't all stand up and fight then we get nothing.

The three CFMEU delegates we elected at 7 Mile have stood up, put their balls on the block, and drawn the cross hairs on their backs to fight for us. I know these three guys well, they have guts and are not scared and they will never lay down and sell us out. The least I can do is to stand up and back these guys. I am proud to be a financial member and will stand with them to the end.

They will represent and back you guys at the Cape too, all you have to do is put your hand up and say yes we want help. So get your memberships in today, there is nothing to be scared of any more. It costs nothing as your dues are tax deductible. Join the fight, you have nothing to lose and hey who Knows you may just end up with better wages, conditions and a safe work place.

As far as peoples salaries go, no ones wages can reduce below what you are on now, so at worst you will stay on your current salary. The intention of the union is to have everyone on equal pay equivalent to or more than what the highest paid drivers are on now.

You can contact the Karratha lodge at cfmeuka@tpg.com.au Drop them an email they will be only too happy to answer you questions.

PI_Dash_9 · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:22 pm

pilbara_sam · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:59 pm

ATO now approved..................whoopie do!

PILBARAMAN · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:32 am

Just read the announcement regarding Auto Trains and thinking how it will affect BHP whether or not they takeover Rio,because if it works there they will surely do it here.They are already talking here about going to 160 car trains with bankers out of Mac and Yandi,and this to me looks like it may be tied in with Automation,because there will no Locotrol/Distributed Power and trains will be half the size they are now in some cases,which means more drivers to run more trains,unless you are looking at Auto Trains,pure speculation of course.Plus a Total SD70 fleet,of which 10 more have arrived on site.
Best of luck to you Rio guys,i can only imagine the reality of it all,we have our incidents here too,there was a big one in Nelson Point about 12-14 months ago due to a change to procedures in the yard,and lucky no one was injured or worse.

pilbara_sam · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:08 am

I look at it this way..............going by everything else Rio does, it will be a total success!!! Laughing

Controller · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:57 pm

Controller · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:07 pm

G'day PI_Dash_9..........you're right about the unions mate. Don't whinge if you are not prepared to stand up and be counted.

The Train Controllers in Hedland all joined the union a few years ago due to the treatment management were dishing out and thinking that we were going to keep on coping it, but they pushed to far one day and everything changed. We took BHPBIO to the Industrial Courts and won, which really smeg them off big time but there was nothing much they could do about it as the battle was won for us on the day Howard's Workchoices came into force. We scored big pay raises from the company and in addition from the Commission plus conditions.

We had to put up with a little bit of harrasment from some of our management people with idle threats, but guess who eventually got the flick from the company....the same management people who were giving us a hard time and they are still cleaning out some of the nazis.

Good to see you blokes joining up again standing up for your rights and trying to make the workplace a safer place to be in.

All gave some, Some gave all

PI_Dash_9 · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:55 pm

PI_Dash_9 · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:09 am

superheatedsteam · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:49 am

In relation to ATO it’s really a question of how much time and money a company is prepared to invest into ATO if it is to succeed or not.

I suspect the hardware/software for ATO is not off the rack so considerable R&D is required not to mention fine-tuning of the system. Automation has its place and it would be rare for any initial implementations to be without any teething problems.

Most modern airliners have the autopilot engaged not long after gear up, tiressly navigate for hours on end and can land using autopilot on a suitably equipped runway. That being said, we as passengers still prefer that a couple of qualified ‘drivers’ are sitting up front monitoring the auto pilot making sure we all arrive on the ground safely.

Even if trains are automated I suspect a qualified driver will still have to be employed to monitor operation and take control in circumstances beyond ATO parameters, like resolving a leaking brake pipe for instance. What ATO can bring to the table is fine-tuning of traction and braking. Saving even a couple of percent in fuel consumption alone could make considerable savings in the long term.

Are computers infallible? No. Are humans perfect? No. But combining the best qualities of both could/should result in more efficient train handling. A pilot hand flying an aircraft of the 50’s is not necessary a better pilot than one who flies a highly automated modern aircraft. Ask any pilot which they would prefer and nostalgia aside most would elect for modern aircraft systems.

Then on the other hand your management could be trying to screw you guys to the wall, what do I know?

I saw on the news a couple of day ago how UK air force personal were remote controlling pilot-less surveillance aircraft flying in Afghanistan from an air base located in the United States via satellite. Almost anything is possible if you throw enough money at it.

westaussie · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 12:20 am

Yes I agree with you Chris. The fatigue doesnot affect Train Controllers who do 12 hrs shifts. Is a comment from someone who is not in the game.

pilbara_sam · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:54 pm

pm1225 · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 12:14 pm

Thanks for the info regarding repair to the damaged units pilbara_sam