Commuters set for more train pain as union capitalises on fallen Transport Minister
Commuters are set for more pain on Sydney’s train network next week as the rail union moves to capitalise on the downfall of former Transport Minister Jo Haylen after her resignation on Tuesday.
NSW
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Commuters are set for more pain on Sydney’s train network next week as the rail union moves to capitalise on the downfall of former Transport Minister Jo Haylen after her resignation on Tuesday.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union has notified more industrial action for next Wednesday, despite assuring the Fair Work Commission in January it would not reintroduce bans to disrupt commuters after the NSW government launched a legal bid to end further action.
One of the three new actions will again result in trains going 23km/h slower in the areas with a speed limit of 80km/h.
The union has said it will stop the action if the government refunds commuter fares for the week between January 13 and 17, when the union’s previous industrial action sent the Sydney Train network to go into meltdown, with delays on some lines reaching more than five hours.
From next Wednesday, there will also be a ban on selling alcohol on regional trains.
In a message to its members, the union said Ms Haylen’s departure presented an “opportunity”.
“In the midst of an ugly and tense bargaining dispute, the departure of the transport minister presents both a threat and an opportunity,” the message said.
“A threat in that we don’t know how a new transport minister will behave towards us, and an opportunity if the government wants to clear its dirty laundry and give them a fresh start.
“Our message to the new transport minister and the premier is to sit down and get it done.”
In response, the Minns government has indicated it is prepared to take the union back to the Fair Work Commission to stop the bans should they have a significant impact on commuters next week.
Premier Chris Minns has committed to giving commuters a fare free day once a deal with the union has been achieved.
“The RTBU has made binding undertakings to the Fair Work Commission relating to industrial action,” a NSW government spokesperson said.
“As a result, these proposed restrictions are expected to be of minor disruption to the travelling public.
“But we’ll keep a close eye on the action to ensure the union abides by those undertakings.”
The union said it would look to ramp up their industrial action by introducing even more bans by the end of the week. The union is demanding a 32 per cent pay rise over four years, which the government has rejected.
RTBU NSW secretary Toby Warnes said it had been more than 60 days since the NSW government had a wage negotiation meeting with the union.
He said he hoped the new interim transport minister would get to an agreement.
“John Graham is not sworn in yet. We’re hopeful he’ll come to the position with a commonsense approach and commit to reimbursing commuters and sitting down with workers to negotiate a swift outcome to the current dispute,” he said.
“Everyone wants to end this dispute, with the exception of some bureaucrats in Transport for NSW and our politicians.”
Originally published as Commuters set for more train pain as union capitalises on fallen Transport Minister
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