Who's Who at the RTBU

NSW Branch Secretary: Alex Claassens

As RTBU NSW Branch Secretary, Alex has primary responsibility for the coordination and daily management of all activities undertaken by the NSW Branch including leading negotiations with employers and senior management, lobbying government and industry bodies and representing the RTBU in the media.

Alex also represents the RTBU on various peak consultative forums and the Executive of Unions NSW.

NSW Branch Assistant Secretary: David Woollams 

As Assistant Secretary of the NSW Branch David assist the NSW Branch Secretary with the daily management of all activities undertaken by the Branch.

David also is responsible for coordinating activities from the RTBU's Newcastle Office and resourcing RTBU members in rail, On-Board Services, Country-Link and the Newcastle bus depot.

Secretary Bus & Tram: Chris Preston 

As Secretary of the Bus & Tram Division Chris works closely with the President of the Bus & Tram Division Darryl Malone to co-ordinate the daily management of the activities undertaken by the Division, and to organise bus employees in NSW's State Transit Authority. Chris organises the Bonnyrigg, Kingsgrove, Leichhardt, Port Botany, Randwick and Waverly Depots and also the Sydney Light Rail.

Chris is primarily responsible for representing the Division in media, negotiations with senior management and lobbying government.

President Bus & Tram: Gary Way 

As President of the Bus & Tram Division Gary works closely with the Secretary of the Bus & Tram Division Chris Preston to manage the administration of the Division, and organise bus employees in NSW's State Transit Authority.

Gary organises the Brookvale, Burwood, Mona Vale, Newcastle, North Sydney, Ryde and Willoughby Depots.

Secretary Locomotive: Bob Hayden

As Locomotive Divisional Secretary, Bob is responsible for coordinating the Divisions' organising, industrial and campaigning activities to support train drivers working in the private and public rail sectors.

Bob started on the railways 28 years ago and has followed successive generations onto the job. He started his career at Eveleigh as an acting Fireman in 1984 & progressed through the ranks at CountryLink until being appointed Acting Driver in 1988. He then transferred to Central ETR to gain his Drivers appointment in 1994, and then transferred to the  Campbelltown depot. At Campbelltown he held the roles of Vice President, President and Sub Divisional Secretary until before being elected as Divisional Assistant Secretary.

Freight Organiser: Steve Wright

Steve is responsible for organising train drivers who operate in the private freight sector of the NSW rail industry.

Steve operates out of the RTBU's Newcastle Office and works closely with Alex Claassens to organise freight drivers in the following companies: ARG, Pacific National, Interail, Southern & Silverton, Southern Shorthaul, Patricks, Independent Railways of Australia, Manildra. Freight Australia, GrainCorp, Momentum and the Ski Tube at Perisher Blue.

Branch Organiser: Doug Klineberg

Doug is responsible for coordinating activities and organising workers in the public and private infrastructure sectors of the rail industry.  Doug works closely with the Divisional Executive to coordinate and manage the planning and operation of the Division.

Companies Doug organises include RailCorp, Rail Infrastructure Corporation (RIC), Australian Rail and Track Corporation (ARTC) and numerous private sector rail infrastructure companies.

Organiser (Presentation & Rolling Stock): Michael Farhat

Michael is responsible for organising workers in the Presentation (Flemington, Mortdale, Hornsby, XPT and Maintenance Depots) and RailCorp's Station Operation areas.

Michael is also responsible for organising the recruitment of new employees in the rail industry.

Before joining the RTBU, Brendan studied industrial relations at university, and was actively involved in the Working Students Union Network. He was employed on a part-time basis with UnionsNSW to work on the Your Rights at Work campaign on university campuses. He has spent the two years before joing the RTBU as a full-time organiser with the Finance Sector Union (FSU), primarily recruiting and organising employees in the Commonwealth Bank.

South Coast Organiser - John Curley

John has worked in the rail industry for more than 30 years, with experience across many sectors and operators within the industry. Prior to being employed as part-time Branch Organiser, John was employed as a Terminal Operator with Pacific National , South Yard at Port Kembla.

John has been actively involved as a delegate and union representative within the RTBU for many years, and in 2009 was elected Assistant National Secretary - Rail Operations. In addition to his organizing work on the South Coast, John has been involved in negotiations for Terminal Operators and Maintainers in the current Pacific National enterprise agreements.

Branch Organiser: Mick Cartwright

Mick is an all areas Relief Organiser who primarily works with RTBU members in TCAC, Train Guards, Transit Officers, Station staff and Aboriginal Liaison Officers at Redfern.

Mick also assists RTBU officers across all Divisions with industrial and organising campaigns. Mick is also responsible for coordinating RTBU discipline and promotional appeals in the NSW Transport Appeals Board.

Branch Organiser: Lizanne Bennett

Lizanne is responsible for organising Administration, Technical and Professional workers across the Transport sector. Lizanne works closely with the Divisional Executive to coordinate and manage the planning and operation of the Division.

Lizanne organises administration, technical and professional workers in RailCorp, Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), Rail Infrastructure Corporation (RIC), Sydney Ferries, NSW's State Transit Authority and Pacific National.

Country Infrastructure Organiser: Paul Douglas

Paul primary responsibility is to organise and recruit members in the private rail sector across NSW.

Paul works closely with Doug Klineberg and the Divisional Executive to implement the Divisional plan.

Industrial Officer: Peter O'Connor

Peter is responsible for a range of activities to support the work of the RTBU across all Divisions including producing Branch communications (Rail & Road, newsletters and RTBU website), coordinating the provision of OHS training to RTBU delegates, workplace activists and members and resourcing OH&S issues.

Peter represents the Branch on a range of peak union and  community forums and assists organising RTBU members across the Wollongong and South Coast. Peter provides industrial support through representation of members, advocacy before industrial tribunals, and negotiations for enterprsie agreemeents.

 Education and Training Officer - Maryanne Stuart

Maryanne has primary responsibility for ongoing education and training across all Divisions within the Branch. This includes the development, delivery and support of a range of member, activist and training programs, as well as identifying professional development for union officers

Maryanne also co-ordinates a range of campaign activity, including convening and supporting the Women's Campaign Committee. Maryanne represents the RTBU on a number of union and community forums and committees