Dominic Perrottet has sought advice from union busters to end rail dispute
Premier Dominic Perrottet and his Transport Minister have been spotted at a meeting over coffee in McMahons Point with some rather revealing guests.
NSW
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The NSW government has sought advice on how to resolve an impasse with the rail unions from the men at the centre of the 1998 Waterfront dispute in which 1,400 workers were sensationally sacked and an alternative workforce brought in.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Premier Dominic Perrottet and his Transport Minister David Elliott met with former Prime Minister John Howard and businessman Chris Corrigan over coffee in McMahons Point on Sunday for a discussion on industrial relations and how to bring ongoing rail disruption to an end.
Mr Corrigan, former boss of Patrick Stevedores, infamously sacked his company’s workforce of 1,400 employees and brought in non-unionised workers, leading to the 1998 Waterfront Dispute.
However, that plan is off the table in bringing Sydney’s current and ongoing train strikes to an end.
Mr Howard and Mr Corrigan shared their insights on how to resolve union disputes, but it is understood that the idea of bringing in an alternative workforce was not discussed at the Piato Restaurant coffee meeting.
An alternative workforce is not being considered as a way to stop rail strikes.
It is understood that Mr Howard and Mr Corrigan warned against meeting the Rail Tram and Bus Union’s (RTBU) wage claim, due to the domino effect it could cause with other unions.
It comes after the RTBU on Saturday withdrew its plans to turn off Opal gates to stop commuters paying for train journeys, following a legal challenge from the government.
Mr Perrottet welcomed the union “pulling back” its planned industrial action.
“Sabotaging the Opal system was clearly not in the interests of the people of NSW,” he told journalists.
“Our focus has always been on minimising disruption on the rail network and people just want to get on with it,” he said.
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