Treasurer Rob Lucas attacks ‘greedy union bosses’ over demands of 4 per cent pay rises for Adelaide train drivers

Train drivers are seeking a new pay deal that would get them a four per cent boost every year until 2024, and considering industrial action. The Treasurer says it’s “utterly tone deaf”.

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Train drivers are seeking a new pay rise of 4 per cent in each of the next four years, as Treasurer Rob Lucas accuses “greedy union bosses” of being tone deaf to the impact of the job-killing COVID-19 recession.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union is also seeking Fair Work Commission permission to take industrial action and has not ruled out strikes.

It comes as the State Government continues planning for privatisation of Adelaide’s train operations next year.

Mr Lucas said the pay demand, which would apply to 368 workers including drivers and related staff, would cost the state $190m if approved.

Mr Lucas last year settled a range of deals with public sector workers including teachers and police that gave pay rises near two per cent. Tram drivers agreed to a two per cent annual pay increase earlier this year.

Mr Lucas said the train demand would mean the top paid train driver’s base salary increased to around $161,000, plus overtime, after four years.

He said the train drivers’ union was “utterly tone deaf” and “completely out of step” with community expectations.

“On what planet are these union bosses living on if they think a 4 per cent pay rise each year for four years in the middle of a global pandemic is justified?” Mr Lucas said.

Jos Valdman's cartoon on the train driver pay demand.

“Don’t they realise we are facing the greatest economic challenge of our time, when many of their fellow South Australians are fighting hard just to hang on to their jobs?

“At a time when workers right across the country are also having to take pay cuts to avoid job losses, here we have another example of greedy union bosses demonstrating that they are completely out of touch with reality.”

The State Budget deficit is currently about $2bn, and debt is rising rapidly due largely to the coronavirus response.

RTBU SA and NT secretary Darren Phillips said the union was willing to reduce its pay demand if other conditions were met, including equipment and training to protect staff from COVID infection.

“There are various elements to the claims that are still outstanding,” he said. “There is a lot around protecting jobs and services for workers as well as the community,” he said.

The earliest the union would take industrial action is the middle of next month. It says disrupting services would be a “last resort” tactic.

“Industrial action is a legitimate bargaining tool for workers,” Mr Phillips said.

“There is a whole range of actions. I won’t go public on those now. “We are going to be modelling industrial action not to be offensive to the public.”