Relief for Sydney commuters as rail workers ordered to suspend industrial action

Sydney commuters have been given a temporary reprieve from transport pain after the Fair Work Commission ordered the state’s rail unions to halt the industrial action that has led to days of chaos on the city’s train network.

In a hastily convened directions hearing on Thursday evening, Justice Adam Hatcher issued an interim order suspending protected industrial action pending a full hearing on Wednesday and Thursday into whether the work bans were damaging the economy.

The order came into effect at 6.30pm Thursday, after more than 2500 services had been suspended in the previous 36 hours.

Commuters on a train at Parramatta station endure another day of chaos on Sydney’s rail network.Credit: Dylan Coker

The hearing came as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese weighed in on the dispute that brought the city to a standstill, saying the industrial action was not helping the rail workers’ cause in their quest for better pay.

A spokesperson for Albanese said: “We support the efforts of the Minns government to bring this dispute to an end.

“The NSW government has made a genuine offer which should be seriously considered by the unions. The current industrial action is not helping the cause of rail workers and is only inconveniencing Sydneysiders.”

Commuters at Parramatta train station on Thursday.Credit: Dylan Coker

A spokesperson for the NSW government welcomed the Fair Work Commission ruling, saying commuters should not have to suffer while the matter was heard.

Rail workers have been offered a 14 per cent pay rise over four years, which includes a 1 per cent rise from savings from the merger of the state’s two passenger rail operators. Transport Minister Jo Haylen said on Wednesday that it was a “final pay offer”.

Premier Chris Minns earlier on Thursday accused rail unions of putting a “noose around” the transport system as part of their negotiating tactics.

As Sydney endured its second day of severe disruptions, Minns said the widespread industrial chaos was having an “incalculable cost” on the NSW economy, businesses and commuters.

Premier Chris Minns and Transport Minister Jo Haylen at a press conference on Thursday.Credit: Steven Siewert

“The effect of these actions is to smash the NSW economy and put enormous pressure on small businesses, not to mention … the welfare of the people of NSW,” he said.

“Scenes [on Wednesday] night at NSW train stations of literally hundreds of people scrambling to get home from the station in the face of an oncoming storm give you all the evidence that you need that this industrial dispute has gone on long enough.”

Up to 4pm on Thursday, 622 train services had been cancelled across Sydney’s rail network, and the number was expected to grow to more than 1000 by day’s end. On Wednesday, 1913 services were cancelled and 1035 delayed, representing 95 per cent of all services.

Minns said the unions’ negotiating tactics were to “put a noose around the public transport system” while demanding higher pay from the NSW government.

Martin Place coffee shop manager Roberto Taffuri’s business has suffered because of the disruption.Credit: Steven Siewert

Asked whether he will ask federal Workplace Minister Murray Watt to intervene, Minns said he would “not take anything off the table” but he wanted Fair Work to decide on the latest application before determining the state’s next steps.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union accused the Minns government of attempting to shift the blame for its failure to negotiate with workers by taking legal action.

“Instead of negotiating, the government is scapegoating rail workers, blaming them for economic disruption they themselves caused. The real cost to the economy isn’t the industrial action – it’s the government’s refusal to negotiate a fair deal,” it said.

Commuters who had no choice but to travel on trains to their jobs were furious about the delays and cancellations caused for a second day by the industrial action.

The government will consider refunding passengers disrupted by the rail chaos over the past two days, although Minns said his immediate priority was to end the disruptions caused by industrial action. “We’re going to look at that very closely,” he said of the refunds.

Royal Prince Alfred doctor Alvin Tan was incensed as he was stuck on a train between two stations with no way make alternative transport arrangements.

“Not a single announcement in the two hours I have been on this train,” he said. “[Rail workers’] actions are putting others in jeopardy. This is immoral.”

Childcare worker Sunny Shah spent three hours travelling from Parramatta to Penrith. “I don’t think it’s fair. Because I’m casual I cannot afford to stay home,” she said.

In Martin Place, businesses suffered a second day of weak trade. Al Dente pasta and coffee shop manager Roberto Taffuri said many small businesses were already struggling post-COVID and “this doesn’t help at all; people can just work from home”.

“Because people were running two or three hours late, they didn’t even have time to stop for coffee. It’s had a huge impact,” he said.

With Nicholas Osiowy and Megan Gorrey

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