‘Guerrilla warfare’: Major cuts to Sydney trains to hit this week as union and government fail to reach agreement

The train union is set to reject a last-ditch NSW Government offer to fix the New Intercity Fleet — meaning the industrial action which has blighted Sydney’s railways this year will continue on Wednesday.

Trains in Sydney could be cut to just 30 per cent of regular services on Wednesday, with the union vowing to stride ahead with industrial action.

The Rail, Tram, and Bus Union is set to reject a last-ditch NSW Government offer to fix the New Intercity Fleet, meaning the industrial action which has blighted Sydney’s railways this year will continue on Wednesday.

It came as dozens of services were cancelled on Monday, with the union refusing to operate trains that don’t meet Maintenance Centre Minimum Standards until September 6.

Transport Minister David Elliott said this meant the union could refuse to operate trains if there was a “can of coke” left on the train, constituting rubbish, saying: “We’ve seen the worst of union thuggery with this guerrilla warfare … over the course of the last six months”.

“It’s not necessarily the reduction in trying services (during strike action),” Mr Elliott said.

Commuters waiting for their train to the north shore at Central Station earlier this month. They have been impacted by the ongoing train strike which has today affected the Northern line. Picture: Richard Dobson

“It’s been it’s been cleaners and train drivers deciding that they’re not going to drive a train because there’s an empty can of coke in a cabin. It’s just ridiculous reasons for people not to do their work.”

“Unfortunately, this Wednesday once again, the unions have imposed on the commuters of this city another day of chaos.”

The rolling industrial action has infuriated commuters – and more action has been planned. Picture: John Grainger

RTBU NSW Secretary Alex Claassens on Monday signalled the union would reject the offer, which came late on Sunday with a deadline for 5pm Monday.

“It’s not an offer, it’s a stunt,” he said. “We still don’t have a deed that I can circulate to our delegates.”

Industrial relations Minister Damien Tudehope on Sunday sent the union the offer, which pledged to fix the New Intercity Fleet, but withdrew the previous condition that it be linked to a pay agreement currently being negotiated with the union.

The NSW Government has caved in and will fix the $2.8 billion New Intercity Fleet in a last ditch bid to stop more strikes, in an eleventh-hour offer to the union.

Minister for Employee Relations Damien Tudehope is demanding “industrial peace”. Picture: NCA NewsWire

The government had previously offered to fix the fleet if the union compromised on their pay dispute, but late on Sunday tabled a revised offer to the union withdrawing that requirement.

It comes after six months of industrial action crippling NSW railways, highlighted by targeted strikes causing delays and cancellations across Sydney last week.

Further action is planned for Thursday when Rail, Tram and Bus Union members will refuse to run Millennium trains servicing key rail lines over the city.

Industrial Relations Minister Damien Tudehope said the revised offer withdrew the government’s previous requirement that the NIF would only be fixed if a pay dispute was settled with the union.

The RTBU has repeatedly said it wanted the two issues considered separately – with the government’s latest offer accommodating that.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW secretary Alex Claassens will look at offer overnight. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“If the unions don’t accept this offer, than what is this about?” he said.

“We’re spending a quarter of a billion dollars in direct funding of taxpayers’ money – and really what we should expect in return is industrial peace.”

“We’re spending this money and what we want in return is industrial peace.”

Mr Tudehope said the revised offer, if signed by 5pm Monday, would then stipulate an intense week of negotiations over pay conditions contained in an Enterprise Agreement.

“We can sort that (pay) out – but it’s got to be done against a background where we’re not being threatened with strikes,” he said.

“The time has now come for (RTBU NSW secretary) Alex Claassens … to say they can’t keep putting the people of NSW through this.”

The government will stump up about $264 million to alter the NIF, which remains in storage claims from the union the fleet isn’t safe – with the disagreement forming a key part of the industrial unrest which has blighted the city’s train lines.

In their letter to the union, Mr Tudehope said the offer to fix the NIF wasn’t an acceptance the fleet was unsafe.

“This offer is made by the Government, not as an acceptance that the work that the RTBU has sought to be done on the NIF is necessary, but rather as an attempt to bring to an end the ongoing dispute which is impacting so adversely on the lives of the people of this state,” he said.

Mr Claassens told The Daily Telegraph the new offer would be looked at by the union overnight and discussed in a meeting with Transport for NSW from 10am Monday.

It comes amid a rolling month of action launched by the union, highlighted by targeted strikes last week which resulted in key services being cancelled across Sydney.

The union has also refused to fine passengers travelling without tapping on, and have also left barriers open to stations across NSW, as part of their campaign.

Originally published as ‘Guerrilla warfare’: Major cuts to Sydney trains to hit this week as union and government fail to reach agreement