NSW Transport minister David Elliott goes ‘to war with my own government’ in bid to end Sydney train strikes

The NSW transport minister calls time on “union thuggery” as he goes into crunch meeting to end commuter pain and industrial action crippling Sydney’s rail network.

Outspoken Transport Minister David Elliott says he doesn’t “have a friend left in government” due to his support for the rail union throughout a bitter industrial dispute.

Ahead of tabling what he agreed was a “final offer” to the union on Thursday in a bid to quell further strike action, Mr Elliott detailed the political cost to himself of pursuing the Rail, Tram and Bus Union’s grievances with the government.

Mr Elliott said he had “been more than fair” in negotiations with the union, ahead of tabling a new signed pledge to make alterations – demanded by the RTBU – to the New Intercity Fleet (NIF), which remains in storage.

“The government has conceded as much as it is going to concede when it comes to this dispute, no longer should the people of NSW be burdened with this union thuggery,” he said.

“I have been more than fair. I have gone to war with my own government. I have been chastised by the unions, I‘ve been chastised by the Premier, I couldn’t have given a more balanced approach to the way that we’re doing business in relation to the deed.”

Transport Minister David Elliott. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Saying that his attempt to negotiate with the union – including raising their gripes with his own government – had lost him the support of colleagues, Mr Elliott vowed that if their action continued it could hurt the RTBU-aligned Labor Party at next year’s state election.

“I don‘t have a friend in this government anymore because I have backed the unions every step of the way,” he said.

“I can give you an iron-clad guarantee the people of this state have had enough … I know exactly where the communities are going to vote … it’s not going to be with (Labor leader) Chris Minns”.

RTBU NSW secretary Alex Claassens said the government’s Thursday offer wasn’t enough for the union to pull planned strike action next week.

Targeted strikes will hit from 10am to 4pm on August 23 and 25.

Trains on the central coast and Hunter lines will be among those impacted on Tuesday, while trains across central Sydney will be impacted on Thursday.

Mr Claassens said union lawyers would look over the offer overnight on Thursday, with a meeting expected on Friday (TODAY) with Regional Transport Minister Sam Farraway over the offer for the NIF.

Mr Claassens, a member of Labor’s state executive committee, also rejected renewed claims the industrial action was a bid to help his party’s chances at election in March.

“I’d be having the exact same fight with the Labor Party,” he said.

“I’ve never played politics, I’ve never let ideology get in the way of that.”