Unions still holding up Metro with no new opening date in sight

A fresh dispute has erupted over how many safety issues need to be fixed before the new line can open with the firefighter’s union claiming there are still 20 issues to be resolved.

A fresh spat has occurred between the NSW government and the firefighters’ union over the number of fixes that need to be made before a new date for the Sydney Metro can be set.

Sydney Metro insists the number of outstanding approvals delaying the opening of the new line between Chatswood and Sydenham is less than 10, despite the firefighters’ union claiming the number is much greater.

As of last Thursday Fire and Rescue NSW said there was a list of 64 issues to be resolved in the tunnels before passengers could use the service, some of which included issues with signage and the incorrect positioning of fire hydrants, which may obstruct access to fire doors.

As of publication it is understood firefighters believe that the number of issues has reduced to 20.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen announces a delay to the opening of the Sydney Metro. Picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

It comes two days after the scheduled August 4 opening for the new line, after it was postponed when the National Rail Safety Regulator confirmed there were safety checks yet to be completed.

At the time Transport Minister Jo Haylen conceded that industrial action with the Fire Brigade Employees Union (FBEU) was a major reason for the delay as the union refused to take part in safety drills last month.

FBEU state secretary Leighton Drury said the August 4 date was never tenable and disagreed with the government’s figure of the number of fixes required to get the Metro up and running.

“Metro have had repeated opportunities to get their house in order,” he said.

“It was disingenuous of Metro to pretend that the August 4 operating date was tenable.”

FBEU state secretary Leighton Drury said the August 4 date was never tenable Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Opposition Transport spokeswoman Natalie Ward said the fighting between the firefighters union and the government over safety was part of a pay dispute ploy by the union.

“The government is losing control of this story and no one is fronting up to explain what is going on,” she said.

“This looks like industrial bargaining dressed up as safety negotiations.”

Despite no new opening date in sight, the NSW government has continued to hire a 300-strong army of Metro staff wearing turquoise shirts to support and inform passengers of the opening of the new line.

Metro street teams near the closed Crows Nest Metro Picture: Rohan Kelly Picture: Rohan Kelly

The street teams were originally supposed to be placed around the city for four weeks answering commuter questions about the Metro. These teams will now be hired on indefinitely until a new opening date is set.

The teams on Monday were deployed to direct passengers confused by the new bus timetable funnelling passengers to closed Metro stations, to other modes of transport.

Transport for NSW has refused to say how much extra a week this will cost taxpayers to keep the 300 additional workers employed.

“Customer service street teams, wearing turquoise shirts, have been deployed across the network to engage, inform and support passengers ahead of, and during, the opening of the new Metro City line,” a TfNSW spokesperson said.

“We are committed to having our street teams on the ground at key locations as we await a new opening date for the Metro city line.”

Originally published as Unions still holding up Metro with no new opening date in sight