Train union revives plans to shut off NSW Opal card readers after Fair Work Commission decision

Union threats to turn off NSW’s Opal card network – dumped over the weekend – have now been revived.

Commuters could still travel for free on NSW trains with the union reviving plans to shut down the state’s Opal card network indefinitely.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) secretary Alex Claassens revealed on Monday the union had submitted an updated application to the Fair Work Commission, just a day after they shelved the plans following a legal challenge from the NSW Government.

The legality of their plans to shut down the Opal card network – making all travel on NSW trains free – will now be debated in the Fair Work Commission in the next two days.

“So within 48 hours, the Commission will determine that (if it’s lawful) and if the commission agrees with us that it’s a lawful protected industrial action, then we’ll be taking it,” Mr Claassens said.

“As soon as we can, we’re going to turn those Opal Card machines off again, and we’ll be giving the commuters in New South Wales free travel, until of course the government comes to their senses and agrees to sit down with us and negotiate and fix our unsafe trains and agree on decent wages and conditions for our members.”

The RTBU is set to push for an answer on whether its plans to shutdown the Opal card network are lawful in the Fair Work Commission. NSW. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

The NSW Government over the weekend announced it would take the union to the Fair Work Commission in a bid to have the union’s plans to turn off or short circuit Opal machines declared ‘unprotected’.

It led to the union withdrawing their plans, but only until their counterclaim was lodged on Monday.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) NSW Secretary Alex Claassens has confirmed if the shutdown is determined to be legal, plans will continue. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

It’s the latest flare-up in the long-running dispute between the government and the union, revolving around a bitter pay and safety dispute.

Last week Transport Minister David Elliott declared he would push for union members who broke the law to be “prosecuted and sacked”, if they participated in illegal actions.

Mr Elliott said the government had received legal advice which appeared to show the union’s pledge to shut the Opal network next week was illegal.

A Transport NSW spokeswoman signalled the government would contest the union’s latest action.

“We maintain the original planned action was prima facie unlawful and would have caused unnecessary impacts on the public,” she said.

“Transport for NSW will continue to take the appropriate measures necessary to minimise the impacts of industrial action on the travelling public.”