Train drivers vote to go on 24 hour strike
NSW commuters can expect even more train chaos as the state’s rail workers prepare to strike on the day thousands of children are expected to return to school. Transport Minister Andrew Constance called the strike action an “extraordinary” act.
NSW
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NSW commuters can expect even more train chaos as the state’s rail workers prepare to strike for 24 hours.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance called the strike action an “extraordinary” act by union bosses.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union announced the strike after lengthy negotiations with rail management fell through in Sydney this afternoon.
The work stoppage will begin at 12.01am on Monday January 29 — the day thousands of children are expected to return to school.
This comes after a week of rail chaos when driver shortages crippled the network.
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“We’re disappointed it’s had to come to this, but management and the NSW government haven’t left us with any other options,” NSW union secretary Alex Claassens said.
“The terrible way management and the NSW government are willing to treat its hardworking employees has been laid bare for everyone to see lately.
“All workers are asking for are fair working conditions and wages in return for the work they do.”
The strike announcement comes after a horror week for the city’s rail network, which left thousands of commuters stranded in peak hour.
Rail workers are unhappy about the current enterprise agreement and have voted to take industrial action as they continue to fight for a six per cent pay rise and improved working conditions.
Drivers have already agreed to indefinitely refuse to work overtime from next Thursday, which the government fears will be “as bad as a strike”.
Sydney Trains chief executive Howard Collins had warned if drivers refused to work unplanned or rostered overtime, it could cause fresh chaos. Earlier in the day, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was confident the union and rail management would reach an agreement and avoid industrial action. While she apologised for the significant delays Sydney commuters experienced, Ms Berejiklian ruled out refunding the public.
Mr Constance hit out at the strike, saying, “Only yesterday they were taking their name badges off — today they’re going to bring the city to a grinding halt and disrupt millions of passenger trips taken across the network.
“Millions of Sydneysiders are going to be brought to a grinding halt because the union is demanding a 24 per cent pay rise. Only yesterday they said they were going to strike ... today they’re going to bring on a 24-hour strike to the network.
“Can someone please explain to me what’s happened in 24 hours for this type of escalation? This is weird behaviour from a union boss who is now handing responsibilities of this on to unions NSW.
“On Thursday Mark Morey and Howard Collins will be meeting to discuss the offer that’s been made between Sydney Trains and rail unions.
“The other point that I would make is that last week as a result of the union ballot, four out of the seven rail unions did not support strike action whatsoever.
“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, and that is a complete shutdown of the network.
“This is not putting customers first, this is putting union bosses interests ahead of customers
“The government is willing to make a pay rise offer to Sydney and NSW train drivers ... that is a 2.5 per cent per annum increase without any productivity improvement whatsoever.
“In terms of the rest of the enterprise agreement — roll it over so it’s the same agreement that the union had been signed up to over the last few years
“Will be put to discussions between Mark Moray and Howard Collins on Thursday.
“Call off the strike, act in the interest of customers and put them first.”