Train strike is on: $100m cost to Sydney in day of chaos
THE Sydney train network is set to be plunged into chaos after rail workers today voted overwhelmingly to take strike action next Monday.
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THE Sydney train network is set to be plunged into chaos after rail workers today voted overwhelmingly to take strike action next Monday.
More than 1.3 million train passengers will be left stranded after the impasse between the combined rail unions and government over train drivers’ pay conditions hit a new low this afternoon.
A whopping 94 per cent of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union’s members voted in favour of industrial action after rejecting Sydney Trains’ latest offer which is believed to have included an annual pay increase of 2.75 per cent, free travel passes extended for existing employees and $1000 bonuses to each employee.
“Unfortunately my members have overwhelmingly decided that the offer on the table is nowhere near good enough and our industrial action will continue,” RTBU NSW Secretary Alex Claassens said.
“The onus is now on the (Transport) Minister (Andrew Constance) to bring the dispute to an end tomorrow by meeting the legitimate concerns of the workforce which is straining daily to keep the system operating under enormous pressure.”
Major disruptions are set to kick in tomorrow when 1300 services are slashed during an overtime ban.
Business leaders say the 24-hour strike by 9000 rail workers on Monday could cost Sydney up to $100 million as companies scramble to come up with plans for staff.
NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley this afternoon blasted Mr Constance, saying he had “lost control of the railways”.
“I am extremely disappointed that a passenger rail strike will occur on Monday,” Mr Foley said. “Make no mistake, this strike is the consequence of Andrew Constance’s relentless attacks on the public transport workforce.
“His public boasts that he will replace all train drivers with driverless trains amounted to a declaration of war on his own workforce.”
Sydney Trains has launched an urgent court hearing in the Fair Work Commission, listed for 3pm, to halt the industrial action.
Commuters will be certain to feel plenty of train pain tomorrow after the government had already put in place contingency plans for the overtime ban.
Sydney Trains will run a Saturday schedule, where there’ll be 1600 services instead of the typical 2900 on a Thursday. The government says extra buses will be put on standby at key locations around Sydney to avoid overcrowding at train stations.
Commuters will need to prepare for train services running across Sydney every 15 minutes, instead of every eight minutes. On the Central Coast it will be every 30 minutes after 6am.
From tomorrow to Sunday, January 28:
● Trains will run to a significantly reduced timetable.
● T5 Cumberland Line services are cancelled on Friday, January 26. A shuttle train service will run between Blacktown and Richmond.
● T6 Carlingford Line services are cancelled on Friday, January 26. Buses replacing trains between Clyde and Carlingford.
● Some additional services will be available to supplement Australia Day services and major events at Sydney Olympic Park after 4pm.
“Employers should talk with their staff about alternative working arrangements such as: the potential for working flexibly, taking annual leave, working from home or other locations where possible, or changing start and finish times,” Transport for NSW said.
“If you must travel, expect delays, travel outside the peak and allow plenty of extra travel time.”
● Passengers are urged to plan their trip at transportnsw.info/trip
Meanwhile, the state’s peak motoring body has urged commuters to work from home during next Monday’s train strike.
“We’ll be encouraging people to hold off on travel unless it’s essential. If you can work from home, we’d encourage people to do so,” NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said.
“If the strike happens it’s going to be very busy on the roads, which will be frustrating for motorists. We encourage people to be patient and show courtesy.”
Two of the big banks, ANZ and Westpac, have encouraged employees to work from home, while others at the Sydney Olympic Park Precinct are urging staff to do the same where possible. The NRMA and Samsung each have hundreds of staff at the site.
Some companies are expected to give taxi vouchers to staff and pay for Uber rides.
The Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) is predicting a traffic “mess” on our roads next Monday. And it has called on the State Government to consider enacting special parking provisions to ease the chaos.
“It (Sydney’s road network) will be a mess on a scale not seen recently,” WSROC president and Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali said.
“Parking stations will be at a premium as there will be no on-street parking unless the government decides to enact special parking provisions.”