The amalgamation of the three rail unions the Australian Railways Union (ARU), the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen (AFULE), the National Union of Railway Workers (NURWA) and the Amalgamated Tramways and Motor Omnibus Employees Association (ATMOEA) united some of Australia's oldest and most colourful unions fundamental in the foundation of organisations such as the NSW Trades and Labor Council (UnionsNSW), the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).
The RTBU has learnt many lessons from its history in regards to being an effective advocate for its members. The RTBU's predecessors survived catastrophic defeats such as the 1912 Brisbane Tramway Strike and the 1917 Railways Strike in NSW, both of which turned into massive general strikes and social and political confrontations.
The new union was originally called the Public Transport Union, but the name was changed in 1998 to Rail Tram & Bus Union because of the impact of privatisation on the union's identity.
The RTBU covers workers employed in a range of areas including:
- Infrastructure (construction and maintenance);
- Rail Operations (station staff, transit officers, guards, signallers, shunters);
- Bus and Tram (bus drivers and light rail staff)
- Locomotive (train drivers);
- Workshops (presentation services); and
- Salaried and Professional (train controllers, clerical, managers, sales).
