Weekend trains saved but Monday-Wednesday commutes at risk
The Rail Tram and Bus Union has dropped the threat of weekend strikes but weekday commuters could be disrupted.
NSW
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The rail union has dropped its threat to hold passengers to ransom every weekend between now and Christmas, but could make life “increasingly more difficult” for commuters using trains from Mondays to Wednesdays.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union Secretary Toby Warnes emerged from daily negotiations on Monday to declare Transport bureaucrats have become a “stumbling block” to positive negotiations with the Premier’s department.
Despite no agreement being reached, the RTBU has dropped the threat of bringing the network to a standstill this weekend.
Rather, union members are threatening to reduce the number of kilometres they will work per shift, starting Monday.
The backdown avoids mass weekend travel chaos, but will ultimately make it harder for government negotiators if they try to take the union to court.
The reduction in work from Monday to Wednesday is less likely to be knocked out by the Fair Work Commission than the complete weekend shutdowns previously threatened.
The union had been threatening to go on strike unless trains ran 24-hours every weekend. That has been called off, indefinitely.
“We probably don’t intend to bring it back at all,” Mr Warnes said.
Unless a pay deal can be reached bu Synday, the reduction in kilometres worked by train crews will come into effect from Monday.
“It will only run Monday to Wednesday, so that people can be sure that their transport system will run efficiently between Thursday and Sunday,” Mr Warnes said.
The sticking point is a disagreement over pay.
“We think we’ve identified enough savings and productivity benefits that would deliver a fair pay rise for our members … but for some reason, Transport remains the obstacle,” Mr Warnes said.
Mr Warnes said that life will become “increasingly more difficult” for commuters if a deal cannot be reached.
“We think next week will be alright, Sydney trains have had two weeks to prepare for next Monday through Wednesday, but it will become progressively harder as the year goes on to run between Monday and Wednesday.”
Earlier, Premier Chris Minns was pessimistic about a deal being reached.
“I can’t promise a breakthrough,” said on Monday.
“It would be irresponsible of me to say we’re on the cusp of announcing it – we’re not.
“Whilst we want to get an agreement with the union we can’t do it at any cost because the cost will eventually be born somehow by taxpayers in the state.”
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