Sydney rail chaos: Trains bosses take home $40,000 pay rise despite slamming workers’ demands

THE boss of Sydney Trains last year oversaw a bumper pay rise worth on average 9 per cent — or about $40,000 — for himself and his top brass, despite saying he was “aghast” at the union seeking a 6 per cent rise for drivers.

SYDNEY train bosses who have slammed a 6 per cent wage claim by rail staff pock­eted an average salary increase of 9 per cent last year.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the average salary for Sydney Trains’ top four fat cats jumped more than $40,000 — from $453,212 in 2015-16 to $495,605 in 2016-17 — well above the 2.5 per cent cap for NSW public servants.

Among them is Sydney Trains chief executive Howard Collins who claimed on Wednesday commuters would be “aghast” to know the Rail, Tram and Bus Union was seeking a 6 per cent rise.

Sydney Trains CEO Howard Collins.

Mr Collins is raking in bigger bucks than Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with a salary of a whopping $695,000.

Transport for NSW Secretary Rodd Staples, the other bureaucrat responsible for writing the report on what caused this week’s trains disasters, will receive an salary of $555,150 plus potential performance bonuses this year.

Commuters clamour to catch a train at Central Station. Picture: Nicholas Eagar

Commuters tackle major delays in Town Hall during the rail meltdown. Picture: John Grainger

Transport Minister Andrew Constance yesterday insinu­ated the spike in sick days he blamed for the chaos could be linked to the union claim.

“The only thing I would say is we have operated the ­timetable for the last month- and-a-half without staffing issues and all of sudden we have them,” Mr Constance said.

Sydney’s trains came to a shutdown this week. Picture: John Grainger

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But RTBU NSW Secretary Alex Claassens said the comment was “ridiculous” and the pay dispute was “totally separate” to this week’s problems.

He said members would be “angry” to learn $40,000 rises had been paid to executives.

“Our workers are doing more with less and they deserve a fair pay rise,” he said. “No one is expecting us ­realistically to get a raise of six ... that is our starting point.”

RTBU NSW Secretary Alex Claassens.

The Minister’s office said only one executive received more than 2.5 per cent increase linked to their performance.

Any other rise above 2.5 per cent was for changed roles or new responsibilities.

Mr Constance last night defended Mr Collins’ pay packet describing him as the “Tube man”. He said his salary had increased to reflect the fact he was now also working as acting chief executive of NSW Trains as well as Sydney Trains.

“I don’t think the union is going to begrudge someone a salary change if their job role changes,” he said.

“This is a man who everyday is responsible for the safety of millions of commuters and running the railway.”

He said the union needed to understand the 2.5 per cent wage cap was in place “for very good reasons” and they couldn’t demand a 6 per cent blanket increase.

When asked to explain why an executive was given an ­increase above 2.5 per cent for their performance he said he “wasn’t across the detail”.