David Elliott pledges ‘Fare Free Fridays if train union pauses industrial action

Rail commuters would travel free on Sydney trains every Friday for a year if the unions promise one thing, the transport minister has pledged.

Rail commuters would travel free on Sydney trains every Friday for a year if unions promise to pause all industrial action for the same period, Transport Minister David Elliott has pledged.

It comes after the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) threatened to launch a new round of strike action unless the government imposes “Fare Free Fridays” until the end of June.

The RTBU is also set to restart the industrial action which led to last month’s network shutdown on Sunday. Mr Elliott on Tuesday said that means another rail shutdown is a “possibility”.

Commuters waiting for a tram this morning at Central Station, Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

It can be revealed that Mr Elliott has been sidelined from talks with the union with the RTBU after Premier Dominic Perrottet put Industrial Relations Minister Damien Tudehope in charge of negotiations across government.

The decision, which has sidelined all portfolio ministers from industrial relations matters, was designed to ensure the government has a consistent approach to negotiations in a year Unions NSW boss Mark Morey has threatened will involve rolling strikes.

That move is being blamed for a stalemate which could threaten further train cancellations, with the RTBU claiming negotiations have broken down.

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RTBU NSW Secretary Alex Claassens has called for Mr Perrottet to personally intervene in negotiations to avoid any further action.

When Mr Elliott was still in charge of negotiating with the union he was able to strike a deal to avoid some strike action, including planned disruption over some workers being prevented from wearing shorts.

Transport Minister David Elliott has agreed to ‘fare free Fridays’ if the union agrees to pause all industrial action. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

Alex Claassens, the RTBU secretary, during a press conference, at Central Station, Sydney, today Picture: Justin Lloyd

The RTBU is also set to restart the industrial action which led to last month’s network shutdown on Sunday.

Mr Claassens said that despite the action, there is no reason that trains would need to be cancelled because services are now running at a regular weekday timetable.

He said the union is trying to inflict inconvenience on bosses trying to run the network, not commuters using it.

“The government and the bureaucrats are the ones that we’re targeting,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

“We still want to provide a service to the public as best we can,” he said.

Trains are running at a reduced frequency between Hornsby and Central due to earlier severe weather conditions damaging equipment.

You will need to change at Central to travel to other City stations.

Please allow extra travel time and plan ahead. pic.twitter.com/sYmmwnXOnK

— T9 Sydney Trains (@T9SydneyTrains) March 14, 2022

Trains are running at a reduced frequency due to earlier severe weather conditions damaging equipment.

Please allow extra travel time. pic.twitter.com/es58XkbOA7

— T7 Sydney Trains (@T7SydneyTrains) March 14, 2022

Trains are not running due to recent severe weather damaging equipment between Schofields and Richmond.

You may need to change trains at Granville to complete your journey. Please allow plenty of extra travel time. pic.twitter.com/z8u6p9LOkQ

— T5 Sydney Trains (@T5SydneyTrains) March 14, 2022

However Mr Elliott couldn’t say on Tuesday whether trains would be able to run during the industrial action.

“There is every possibility that we won’t be able to run the network,” Mr Elliott said.

“There is a strong possibility that any of this industrial action over a prolonged period of time could cause the rail management to restrict services,” he said.

Under new protocols imposed by the Premier last month, Mr Elliott would be required to sign off on any rail shut down in writing.

Heavy congestion at North Sydney station this morning due to closure of train service to CBD. Not good when BA.2 is circulating in #Sydney. pic.twitter.com/2I1cw6xHgp

— Steve Clark (@SteveClarkAdept) March 14, 2022

The matter is set to come to a head in negotiations between Sydney Trains and the union on Thursday.

Mr Elliott said he won’t be at the meeting “at this stage” because he is due to meet with homeless veterans in Lismore as part of his Veterans portfolio.

He said it was appropriate that Industrial Relations Minister, Mr Tudehope, has a “cross government brief” in taking charge of negotiations with unions.