NSW Government reaches wage deal with rail unions

The NSW Government and rail unions have struck an agreement in their drawn-out wage dispute, potentially bringing an end to months of chaos across the network. Here’s the latest.

The in-principle deals should reduce rail interruptions in Sydney. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

The days of rolling rail chaos leaving Sydney commuters stranded are over, the Minns government has declared after striking a deal with the city’s train unions after months of off-and-on negotiations.

But rail workers could still yank the newly-minted deal off the table, with union members preparing to soon vote on the agreement in the coming days to weeks.

The NSW government and the Combined Rail Unions struck the in-principle deal in the Fair Work Commission on Friday, with the end in sight for an industrial dispute that has held Sydney rail commuters to ransom for more than half a year.

The unions backed down from their original 32 per cent wage demand, accepting less than half of what they wanted in the new Enterprise Agreement.

A 12 per cent pay rise over three years plus back pay will come into effect if rail workers support the deal and the commission grants final approval.

The deal could mean the end of months of commuter chaos is in sight. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

The deal also puts an end to current protected industrial action by the unions, and Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink will also become one entity in the three-year proposed agreement, however, the government said the merger will not reduce frontline services on trains or at regional stations.

A suite of safety improvements and changes to fix how quickly the network can get back online after a disruption have also been agreed to in principle.

NSW Rail, Tram and Bus Union Secretary Toby Warnes. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Although NSW Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) secretary Toby Warnes said it was “fantastic” negotiations had proven successful, the Electrical Trade Union (ETU) and was at 7pm on Friday still negotiating with government officials inside the FWC.

The government said the ETU did not support one outstanding clause in the agreement but in a statement announcing the deal, claimed it “does not affect the agreement”.

Every union must agree to the deal for it to go to a vote and if successful, come into effect, with the RTBU accusing the ETU of blocking the vote and “withholding” the deal that union delegates “fought so hard for”.

“Our claims always benefit ETU members and by their actions, they are stopping those benefits from flowing through to their members too,” an RTBU missive on Friday read.

NSW Transport Minister John Graham. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Despite the deal not being set in stone, Transport Minister John Graham declared the government had delivered on a fair wage rise for workers while protecting taxpayers money.

“I want to thank the commuting public for their patience as we got this agreement done,” Mr Graham said.

“This agreement will bring relief to the disruption from protected industrial action that a million daily rail commuters have been forced to endure while just trying to get to work and get around.”

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey called the deal a “positive result”.

But Opposition leader Mark Speakman was less convinced, saying: “Until we see the actual deal (finalised) this is just a press release.”