Rail Workers win pay rise above NSW wages cap

In a huge blow to the state government, the Fair Work Commission has ruled rail workers deserve an extra one per cent pay rise following marathon strikes.

Rail Workers will benefit from a pay rise after the Fair Work Commission delivered a major blow to the NSW government’s wages policy.

Sydney Trains employees will be provided an additional one per cent pay rise for 2022 and 2023.

The total pay rise comes to 3.53 per cent back paid for last year, and 4.03 per cent this year, plus a one-off payment of $4500.

The matter was referred to the Fair Work Commission after a marathon dispute between the rail unions and the state government that caused havoc for commuters.

The Fair Work Commission found that the existing pay conditions could lead to a significant decline in real wages, and the government could not demonstrate that a one per cent pay rise would adversely impact the state budget.

Train workers have been granted an extra pay rise. Picture: David Swift

The decision is a huge loss for the Perrottet government, which has blasted Labor’s vow to increase wage caps, and warned rising wages would blow out the state budget.

The current wages cap is at 3 per cent, plus an additional 0.05 per cent for productivity measures.

“This is a momentous decision that delivers significantly higher pay than the NSW government intended,” said Mark Morey, Secretary of Unions NSW.

“The credibility of its pay policy is in tatters.

“The Fair Work Commission is independent of politicians. Its experts have assessed the evidence and outright rejected the stingy approach of Dominic Perrottet, instead awarding a pay rise that goes further in easing the strain on family budgets.

“An extra one per cent a year will make a significant difference.

“For many it will be the difference between paying for school excursions or a modest summer holiday.”

The brutal war between the unions and the government saw Sydney’s trains come to a standstill last February, plus multiple strike actions throughout 2022.

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