Sydney Train chaos: More hell set as train drivers vote to go on 24 hour strike
RAIL workers have threatened to plunge Sydney into transport hell by staging a 24-hour strike on the Monday after the Australia Day weekend.
NSW
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RAIL workers have threatened to plunge Sydney into transport hell by staging a 24-hour strike on the Monday after the Australia Day weekend.
The stoppage is timed to cause major havoc for commuters coming at the end of the summer holiday break with the city fully back to work.
January 29 is also the first official day of the new school year for teachers — although most students are not expected back until the next day.
In a sudden escalation of its dispute with the government, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union said it was pulling workers from all services across the state because they were “fed up” with Transport Minister Andrew Constance.
“We just won’t stand here and cop the crap that he’s thrown at us,” NSW union secretary Alex Claassens said.
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The union initially announced its members would refuse to work overtime from Thursday next week but yesterday said it was clear further action was needed.
Mr Claassens apologised to commuters, insisting the strike action wasn’t intended to hurt the community.
But a furious Minister Constance lashed the union for their “bizarre” escalation of the dispute and would not rule out heading to court to try to halt the strike.
“This is bizarre to go from Friday wanting to take name badges off and not wear uniforms to overtime bans, to now one of the most serious strike actions that you can pull,” Mr Constance (pictured) said.
“They’re going to bring the city to a grinding halt and disrupt millions of passenger trips taken across the network. Can someone please explain to me what’s happened in 24 hours for this type of escalation?”
RBTU members are seeking an annual pay rise of 6 per cent each year over four years as part of their new enterprise bargaining agreement. The government is offering 2.5 per cent per annum.
They have also been at loggerheads over rostering, sick leave and the new timetable.
Sydney Trains boss Howard Collins is to meet with Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey on Thursday to discuss the RTBU’s pay claim and the strike threat.
Opposition Leader Luke Foley said Mr Constance was responsible for the breakdown of relations on the railways and “his constant denigration of train drivers has resulted in the announcement of Sydney’s first passenger rail strike this century”, he said.