‘Extortion’: NSW train drivers’ demanded pay rise sparks outrage

Aussies have erupted with fury after discovering just how much money NSW train drivers are set to make if their “extortionate” union demands are met.

New South Wales train drivers could take home close to $200,000 in four years time if union demands are met, staggering projected figures claim.

Sydney’s rail network was plunged into chaos this week after industrial action was launched by the Electrical Trades Union and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) – the latter of which has demanded a 32 per cent wage increase over four years amid a long-running dispute with the NSW government.

The state government has repeatedly rejected the pay rise, putting forward a 15 per cent pay increase in its latest offer.

According to figures released by Sydney radio station 2GB, if demands for a 32 per cent pay rise are met, train drivers will earn $157,081 in the first year of the agreement.

Their pay will be bumped up to $170,408 the following year before jumping again to $184,040 in the third year.

By the fourth year, drivers would reportedly take home an eye-watering $198,764.

Transport for NSW has the average salary of a Sydney Trains driver as $128,196 including overtime and allowances. However, the RTBU claims the base salary is $50,000 less, sitting at $78,388.

Commuters at central station as a proposed train dispute rolls out this week. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The projected pay increase sparked outrage online, with many labelling the demand a “joke” and “extortion”.

“That is what paramedics, nurses and police officer salaries should look like. Not train drivers,” one person wrote.

“It is a joke,’ said another.

“They drive trains. They are not pilots. Surely there are an abundance of people who would be willing and able to drive trains for the current salary. Labor and the Unions are out of control,” businessman and expelled NSW Liberal executive member Matthew Camenzuli wrote on X.

“It is truly insane. This is extortion,” he added in a separate comment.

“Wow. sign me up! Easier than labouring job and pays 10 times more,” said another.

“It’s time for driverless trains I guess,” another suggested.

Commuters at central station as a proposed train dispute rolls out this week. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Industrial action halted

It comes as industrial action, which had crippled Sydney over recent days, was suspended on Thursday before further legal action between the NSW government and unions.

Over 1000 train services were slashed on Wednesday and the cancellations continued into Thursday amid industrial action.

In a late move on Thursday, the Fair Work Commission issued an interim order stopping unions from disrupting train service from 6.30pm on Thursday before a formal hearing at the end of next week.

NSW Premier Chris Minns cut short his holiday on Thursday to announce the government would lodge a new application with the Fair Work Commission.

The application under Section 424, which empowers the commission to intervene in protected industrial action if it is found to endanger life, personal safety or health, or welfare of people or cause significant damage to the Australian economy or part of it.

After hearing submissions from the Combined Rail Unions and Sydney Trains, Fair Work Commission president Alan Hatcher said it would not be practicable to have the legal challenge determined within five days, which is required under legislation.

As a result, a mandatory interim order putting on hold protected industrial action had to be made, Mr Hatcher said.

Chris Minns announced the government would lodge a new application with the Fair Work Commision. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Under the order, the protected industrial action taken by the Combined Rail Unions will be put on hold from 6.30pm Thursday, ahead of a full bench hearing on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

Lawyers for Sydney and NSW Trains and the NSW Industrial Relations Minister had initially told the court they hoped the matter would be heard on Friday or “as soon as practical thereafter”.

Minns’ governments latest legal play to stop rail disruption

Mr Minns said the government wanted an urgent outcome to end the widescale industrial disruption that was affecting hundreds of thousands of people.

“We have sat in good faith with the unions for a long time, we’ve come to the table with a good faith offer,” he said.

Commuters at central station as a proposed train dispute rolls out this week. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“We’ve made that offer public to NSW employees in the transport system.

“We’ve done everything we possibly can to get to an agreement with the rail unions – they’ve continued to hold out.”

He said ongoing negotiations would have been fine had public transport outages not impacted “nearly every family in Sydney”.

“But when the union says negotiations, what they really mean is that they’re going to continue to put a noose around the public transport system while demanding more and more and more money from the NSW government,” Mr Minns said.

“And unfortunately, the collateral damage when it comes to this industrial action are the mums and dads, the commuters, the people of NSW that just need to get to and from work.

“Now, if the Fair Work Commission agrees with the government’s application, that’s the end of protected industrial action on the railways in NSW, and we go to an arbitrated decision.”

The premier said the decision was not one made lightly, but called it “appropriate” in the circumstances.

“I think any reasonable person will look at the course of the last few months and see the government has bent over backwards to get a good, fair outcome for rail workers in NSW, but endless industrial action that smashes the NSW economy and makes life unbearable for families in NSW is intolerable and cannot go on.”

The premier said the decision was not one made lightly, but called it “appropriate” in the circumstances.

Industrial action, which had crippled Sydney over recent days, was suspended on Thursday. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

The RTBU hit back at the government’s move, with a statement from the union branding it “nothing more than a desperate attempt to shift the blame for its own failure to negotiate with workers”.

The union claimed the government had failed to engage in bargaining for 44 days.

“If the NSW government truly cared about its essential workers — whether it’s nurses, psychiatrists, or rail workers — it would have come to the table long ago with a fair offer for these important workforces,” the RTBU statement read.

“Instead, it engages in cheap political tricks designed at achieving headlines, pays law firms top dollar to bring bogus legal cases, and anything else it can to avoid sitting at the bargaining table.

“The workers of NSW are asking for basic, fair wages, safer conditions, and job security — nothing extravagant, just what they deserve. The longer the government refuses to take this seriously, the longer this dispute will drag on.”

The RTBU has called for the state government to go back to the bargaining table after a 15 per cent pay rise was offered, as well as a one per cent super increase.

The RTBU was given until Thursday to respond to the offer, however it’s understood this does not mean feedback on the offer couldn’t be raised past Thursday.

Mr Minns said he would “presume” the union was going to reject the government’s offer, however he said “I don’t think we’ve heard that officially”.

“The last I heard … they’re still demanding 32 per cent, plus a conditions package that’s un-fundable,” Mr Minns said.

– With NCA NewsWire

Originally published as ‘Extortion’: NSW train drivers’ demanded pay rise sparks outrage