Rail union dumps plan to turn off Opal readers after state govt launches legal action

The rail union has backed down from its plan to turn Opal readers off “indefinitely” after the state government launched legal action over the planned industrial move.

The rail union has backed down from its plan to turn off Opal card readers indefinitely after the Perrottet government initiated legal action over the move.

The government lodged a Section 418 application in the Fair Work Commission on Friday night, in an attempt to have the action declared unprotected.

The application was made after the government sought legal advice, with the matter expected to be heard within 48 hours.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW’s plan to turn off Opal card readers “indefinitely” was scheduled to begin on Wednesday.

On Saturday the union said it had cancelled the action but was considering alternative strike options.

Commuters would get free travel under the union’s plan. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“Although the union is confident the government is wrong, given the irrational and illogical threats made by the Transport Minister last Thursday to “sack or prosecute them [members]” for exercising their lawful workplace rights, the delegates made the decision to cancel the action of turning off opal machines scheduled to start next Wednesday,” the union said in a statement.

“The gates at stations will also be closed from Sunday as a result of this dirty legal trick. However, now because of this dirty trick, commuters will not be getting free travel from Wednesday.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW secretary Alex Claassens said the union was ‘within its rights’ to turn off the readers. Picture: Dylan Coker

“The RTBU NSW is fully committed to giving fare-free travel to commuters and is now considering alternative ways that this can be achieved.”

The union had gone as far as establishing a “hotline” telling members how to turn off the machines or sabotage the technology.

But in a statement announcing the legal action, a Transport spokesman said the government had been advised the union’s plan was unlawful.

“Sydney Trains and NSW Train Link believe the notified action is also unsafe and could cause financial impacts on commuters,” he said.

Transport Minister David Elliott has called the plan ‘economic bastardry’. Picture: Richard Dobson

“The submission comes after the Combined Rail Unions rejected a number of formal requests from transport officials to withdraw the action.”

The union has been in a long-running dispute with the state government over safety concerns.

The union is seeking to have the government’s offer to fix issues with the New Intercity Fleet in writing — separate to its enterprise bargaining agreement.

About 90 per cent of commuters continued to tap on when gates were left open in recent weeks, despite seeing a drop of about 92,000 commuters in one day.

Transport Minister David Elliott previously slammed the union’s plan to turn off the readers as “economic bastardry”.

“It’s not coming out of my pocket.” he said. “The union is forcing Transport to bleed money, hardly the sort of thing you would do if you’re asking us to invest more.”

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