Premier Chris Minns shuts down calls to sack rail workers amid industrial dispute

Premier Chris Minns says it would be “unrealistic” to sack union rail workers amid an ongoing industrial dispute, but has not ruled out calling in the prime minister to intervene.

Premier Chris Minns has dismissed suggestions sacking thousands of unionised rail workers would resolve the long-running industrial dispute, calling the idea “unrealistic”.

It comes after former transport minister David Elliott suggested sacking all union members and replacing them with non-unionised staff, drawing a comparison to former prime minister John Howard’s 1998 decision to remove 1500 wharf workers.

However, Minns rejected the idea, stating that while all options remain on the table — including seeking federal intervention — mass dismissals are not a practical solution.

“I don’t believe sacking 15,000 workers this morning and replacing them with a hypothetical workforce from where is going to solve the dispute,” he told 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Tuesday.

“What I do think will work is our application in the Fair Work Commission tomorrow to end what I regard as completely outrageous industrial blackmail of Sydney.”

Premier Chris Minns rejected the suggestion to sack all rail union workers. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Sydney’s rail network is operating close to timetable on Tuesday morning despite ongoing industrial action, with no train cancellations reported so far.

As of 5am, 115 train drivers and guards from Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink had not reported for their scheduled shifts, with the number expected to rise throughout the day. However, services remain largely unaffected, and Transport for NSW confirmed delays had been minimal.

“Passengers are still advised to plan ahead and allow extra travel time as there may be disruption over the course of the day due to industrial action,” Transport for NSW said.

The network experienced minor disruptions on Monday, as thousands of commuters opted to drive instead of taking public transport.

Sydney’s rail network was running close to schedule as of 6.30am on Tuesday. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

This led to heavy congestion and gridlock on roads during the morning peak.

Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink apologised for the ongoing disruptions, thanking staff who have continued working to minimise the impact on passengers.

The industrial dispute will return to the Fair Work Commission for a full bench hearing on Wednesday.

CALL FOR ALBANESE TO END RAIL DISPUTE

Anthony ­Albanese should step in to resolve the bitter wage dispute that has crippled Sydney’s train network and left commuters stranded, a Liberal senator says.

The call for the Prime Minister to intervene comes as ­former NSW transport minister David Elliott urged Premier Chris Minns to sack the unionised rail workforce and replace it with contract ­labour in order to end the months-long dispute between the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) and the government.

Sydney commuters are facing ongoing train chaos this week after hundreds of rail workers called in sick, sending the network into meltdown last Friday. Though commuters were given a slight reprieve on Tuesday, 320 services were still cancelled, with more than 310 drivers and guards not showing up for work.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Wollongong.

As the Minns government prepares to take the RTBU to the Fair Work Commission tomorrow to stop its industrial action and place both ­parties into arbitration, Liberal senator for NSW Maria Kovacic said Mr Minns should ask the PM to stop the chaos immediately by invoking section 431 of the Fair Work Act.

Under the act, Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt could give a ministerial declaration terminating the industrial action if there was a threat to public safety or significant damage being done to the economy.

“Where is the Prime Minister on this? He’s nowhere,” Senator Kovacic said.

“The Premier said before that if he had an open chequebook he could solve this ­problem … He could stop it today for free by asking Minister Watt to invoke section 431.”

The ongoing disruptions loom as a threat to Labor’s “red wall” in the upcoming federal election, with voters in traditionally safe Labor seats left stranded by the upheaval.

While light rail and metro services operate closer to the CBD, Western Sydney residents needing to travel to the city for work have fewer public transport alternatives.

Premier Chris Minns. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Mr Minns on Monday accused the union of “blackmail” and said he hoped the Fair Work Commission (FWC) would intervene to “end this circus” but stressed the state government had contingency plans in place should the legal action fail.

He said he would not ask his federal colleagues to step in to stop the industrial action prior to tomorrow’s FWC hearing.

“For me to make that kind of assertion before the president and the full bench have made a decision I don’t think is respectful to the commission, but I’m not ruling anything out,” Mr Minns said.

“We’re exploring all options if we go down on Wednesday.”

As commuters faced more days of potential disruption, former Liberal minister Mr Elliott suggested an alternative approach to end the industrial action, calling on Mr Minns to conduct a “root and branch” restructure of the trains workforce, in a ­re-run of the infamous 1998 Waterfront Dispute in which union wharfies were kicked off the docks. Mr Elliott said he was planning a similar reform had he stayed in parliament.

“I knew the people of NSW could not afford these silly games every time an enterprise agreement expired,” he said.

Mr Elliott said Mr Minns needed to use commuter anger to wipe the slate clean.

“Minns can take advantage of the public anger and order a root-and-branch restructure of the trains workforce which would include bringing in a contracted labour force, just like John Howard did on the wharves (in 1998),” he said.

Do you know more? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]

Originally published as Premier Chris Minns shuts down calls to sack rail workers amid industrial dispute