Rail, Tram, and Bus Union

Rail, Tram, and Bus Industry Union

Australian Rail Tram and Bus Industry Union
Predecessor	Australian Railways Union Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Employees Australian Tramway and Motor Omnibus Employees' Association National Union of Rail Workers of Australia
Founded	1 March 1993
Headquarters	Trades Hall, 4 Goulburn Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Members	35,178 (December 2025)
National President	Victor Moore
National Secretary	Alex Claassens
Affiliations	ACTU, ITF, ALP
Website	www.rtbu.org.au

The Rail, Tram, and Bus Industry Union (RTBU) is an Australian trade union representing rail, tram and bus workers. The RTBU is affiliated with the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Australian Labor Party.

Internationally, the RTBU is affiliated with the International Transport Workers' Federation. It has a membership of 35,178 as at December 2025.

History

The union's history goes back to 1861, with the formation of the Locomotive Engine Drivers Association in Victoria. The Public Transport Union was formed on 1 March 1993 through the amalgamation of four long-standing transport unions: the Australian Railways Union, the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Employees, the Australian Tramway and Motor Omnibus Employees' Association and the National Union of Rail Workers of Australia. The amalgamation created one union for public transport workers for the first time in Australia. It adopted its current name in 1998.

Structure

The RTBU is organised into National Divisions, covering Infrastructure; Rail Operations; Tram and Bus; Locomotive; Workshops and Salaried and Professional. There are seven state branches, with the National Office located in Sydney:

• New South Wales
• Queensland
• South Australia and Northern Territory
• Victoria
• Tasmania
• Western Australia

Gallery

• 
  RTBU Queensland rally against the Newman government, Brisbane 2015
• 
  RTBU New South Wales members protesting WorkChoices, 2005
• 
  Rail, tram and public service unions protesting against the Public Service Reduction Act, 1934
• 
  Union members outside Brisbane Trades Hall during the 1912 tram strike
• 
  Railway Workers' strike, Brisbane, 1948
• 
  Crowds and police in Edward Street in front of the Trades Hall during the Railways Strike, Brisbane, 1948
• 
  RTBU supporters carrying a banner in the Brisbane Labour Day March, 2012

See also

• Railway trade unions in Australia

External links

• Official website
• Rail Tram and Bus Union (Queensland Branch)
• Rail Tram and Bus Union (NSW Branch)