Industrial action could hit the Metro network from August under wage despite

The union that brought the rail network to its knees is demanding drivers’ cabins on driverless trains. Here is why.

The rail union wants staff cabins on driverless Metro trains. Picture: Justin Lloyd

The rail union is demanding Transport for NSW install drivers’ cabins on driverless Metro trains.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Metro operator MTS is “considering” the Rail Tram and Bus Union’s call for secure staff cabins in Metro trains, which was made in negotiations for a new pay deal.

The NSW government is resisting the costly move but the dispute could devolve into disruptive strike action from August if not resolved by then.

Installing driver cabins on the driverless Metro would cause mass disruption to the network by forcing the trains to be re-approved by the national safety regulator.

The RTBU conceded retrofitting cabins into the rolling stock would be a “very large piece of work” which would “involve negotiating with Transport for NSW, Sydney Metro and the (national safety) regulator … as it involves altering approved infrastructure”.

RTBU members working on the Metro are demanding a 24 per cent pay rise over three years, 10 paid sick days a year, and “staff seating” at Metro stations as part of bargaining on their new enterprise agreement.

Deputy Liberal leader Natalie Ward said the prospect of installing cabins on the driverless Metro was “pathetic”.

“The RTBU leadership have already torpedoed the train network,” she said.

Customer Journey Co-ordinators were put on Metro trains despite the service operating remotely. Picture: Justin Lloyd

“They need to keep their hands off the Metro.

“The government should rule out yet another union stitch-up that will cost taxpayers millions of dollars and disrupt commuter services.

“We already have a driver on the driverless Metro, retro-fitting cabins onto these state-of-the-art trains is pathetic and an example of why Sydney is losing momentum under the government.”

In a statement, an RTBU spokeswoman said staff on the trains needed secure cabins for their own safety.

The government is resisting calls for new staff cabins. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“With anti-social behaviour and assaults increasing across the rail network, workers need a safe space aboard the train to ensure both their safety and the safety of passengers,” she said.

The spokeswoman rejected the characterisation of the cabins as “drivers’ cabins”.

Transport Minister John Graham said the government “will not be supporting these changes”.

NSW Premier Chris Minns and former transport minister Jo Haylen joined former premiers Mike Baird and Dominic Perrottet to mark the opening of the new Metro line through the city. Picture: NewsWire / Simon Bullard.

The Metro operator is, however, required to consider the changes as part of wage bargaining.

In 2022, the same union forced the then-Coalition government to spend hundreds of millions of dollars modifying the state-of-the-art intercity fleet, including making changes to cameras, screens and emergency doors.

The claims are the latest demands from the union, which threw Sydney’s heavy rail system into chaos last year over demands for a 32 per cent pay rise.

Amid the industrial chaos, the RTBU was demanding that train drivers be put on every Metro train.

Then transport minister Jo Haylen originally refused the demand but backed down in an attempt to end rolling strike action that was grinding the rail network to a halt.

Ms Haylen gave into the demands, with TfNSW staff now working on Metro trains as Customer Journey Co-ordinators.

Originally published as Industrial action could hit the Metro network from August under wage despite