Rail union warns of industrial action with ’force and scale they’ve not yet seen from us’

The Transport Minister has rejected his government’s claim changes to new trains would cost $1 billion, as the RTBU threatens strike action of a previously unseen “force and scale”

Transport Minister David Elliott has backed the union’s demands to make alterations to the New Intercity Fleet (NIF) and has disagreed with the government’s claim the work could cost $1 billion.

Mr Elliott has commissioned an independent audit into the work which is yet to be finalised, but said he was confident it wouldn’t be near the $1b price tag that has been floated by fellow government ministers, as he pledged to keep pushing the union’s case.

“I promised (the union) that whatever modifications that they believed were necessary, I will prosecute that case in ERC,” he said.

“My view has always been that when I get the auditor costing, I don’t believe that it’s going to be a billion dollars so that’s why I wanted an independent audit.”

He acknowledged there was “a mess to clean up here because we’ve got trains that are sitting on tracks on the Central Coast that aren’t being used”.

NSW Transport Minister David Elliott has rejected claims the rail union’s demands would cost up to $1 billion. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

“That’s something that I inherited four months ago and I made a commitment to the Premier and the unions. I will do everything I can to see a resolution and have that rolling stock on the track,” he said.

The head of the rail union vowed that there would be “hell to pay” and threatened the government with industrial action of a “force and scale they’ve not yet seen from us” if it did not accept the claims negotiated during meetings with Mr Elliott in a letter to members sent last Monday (May 9).

The statement is at odds with Rail Tram and Bus Union NSW Secretary Alex Claassens’ comments about being the “adults in the room,” after Industrial Relations Minister Damien Tudehope blew up negotiations over the New Intercity Fleet on Thursday.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the incendiary message as Premier Dominic Perrottet prepares to meet with Mr Claassens in a bid to smooth over tensions.

The pair will meet on Monday for what was a mutually arranged discussion.

The message to RTBU members bodes for further strike action after Mr Tudehope declared he wanted the New Intercity Fleet to enter operation as soon as possible, without alterations sought by the union.

Premier Dominic Perrottet will meet with the RTBU on Monday. Picture: Christian Gilles

“We need to make it extremely clear to these politicians that the only option here is to accept the claim we’ve fought so hard for or there will be hell to pay,” the letter authorised by Mr Claassens said.

“As we’ve seen throughout this bargaining process, the NSW Government on its own can’t be trusted to do right by workers but together we can force their hand.

RTBU Secretary Alex Claassens. Picture: Tim Pascoe

“If our claims are rejected by the government process, our members would be taking further industrial action and … this action would be with a force and scale they’ve not yet seen from us.”

Mr Claassens told The Daily Telegraph that despite his strong message to members, the union was “committed” to waiting on the outcome of the Expenditure Review Committee (ERC).

“We want to reach a sensible resolution as quickly as possible, one which delivers a safe railway for commuters at risk, like the New Intercity Fleet clearly does,” he said.

“Of course, workers will be forced to look at taking unprecedented action if the NSW Government continues down the unprecedented path of knowingly putting commuters at risk to make a political point.

Mr Claassens said Mr Tudehope’s views were “dangerous” and “out of step with all experts”.