Warning for Sydney commuters as Minns takes rail union to court

Despite the Federal Court granting the injunction on Sunday night, commuters can expect some delays and cancellations.

Commuters have been warned of “major service reductions and cancellations” on the rail network, despite the Minns government winning an eleventh hour Federal Court injunction.

The urgent legal action was launched on Sunday to stop the rail union from resuming industrial action on Monday.

While the government was successful in winning the court order, Transport for NSW said passengers on Monday will see significant disruption.

Delays and cancellations are expected on more than half a dozen lines, including the T1 North Shore and Western, T2 Leppington & Inner West, T3 Liverpool and Inner West and T8 Airport & South lines.

Delays and cancellations were expected on more than half a dozen lines on Monday. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Premier Chris Minns. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short.

The Federal Court granted the injunction on Sunday night, preventing total chaos for Sydneysiders.

A NSW government spokesperson said they welcomed the actions of the Federal Court in granting the injunction.

They said there will be some impacts on the network on Monday that could not be undone.

“The NSW government is pleased we have some certainty for NSW commuters, particularly as we head into the Christmas and New Year period and will continue to work for an agreed outcome.”

No breakthrough in negotiations

On Sunday Premier Chris Minns said the government was seeking an injunction in the Federal Court to stop the Rail, Tram and Bus Union from resuming industrial action.

“After two weeks of negotiations we have not been able to come to a fair deal with the combined rail unions,” Mr Minns said.

“Daily exhaustive negotiations have not resulted in a breakthrough despite the government’s best efforts.

“I’m disappointed and I’m very sorry about it, but unfortunately that’s where we are at.”

It prompted a retort from the union which claimed it was an “unprecedented legal attack against workers” and accused the Labor government of “effectively shutting down the talks”.

Mr Minns made the announcement on Sunday night despite negotiations over the weekend.

RTBU NSW Secretary Toby Warnes. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard.

Last week, RTBU NSW secretary Toby Warnes said “action” was set to commence on Monday.

While the union was previously negotiating for trains to run 24 hours each day from Thursday to Saturday nights, it had since backed down.

The union had vowed to place a restriction on the distance its members could travel during a shift as part of its negotiations for pay rises.

Mr Minns said he could not agree to the union’s demands having “at the same time” said “no to the nurses union and other unions” during “reasonable settlements” this year.

“The Government asked rail unions to pull their planned industrial action this coming week,” Mr Minns said.

“They’ve refused.

“And as a result Transport for NSW has this afternoon sought an injunction in the federal court to do all we can to avoid inconvenience to NSW families in the run up to Christmas.”

The union was demanding a 32 per cent pay rise over four years as part of negotiations.

Mr Warnes on Sunday said the government had blown up positive negotiations and accused it of attempting to “find loopholes in the multi-employer bargaining agreement to suggest the action planned by workers is unprotected.”

“Sending threatening legal notices at a moment in the negotiations when it looked like we were very close to being able to land an agreement is unbelievably irresponsible and disruptive,” Mr Warnes said.

“We are desperate to reach a deal, but it appears the NSW Government is more interested in threatening workers and continuing chaos. They have been aware of this action for over six weeks, but they’ve waited until the 11th hour to pull a stunt like this.”

The RTBU on Sunday said protected industrial action would go ahead from Monday to Wednesday.

As part of the action, the distance which can be travelled by drivers and guards will be incrementally reduced.

“The maximum distances for suburban drivers and guards will be reduced by 5 kilometres per day, for intercity drivers and guards it will be reduced by 8 kilometres per day,” the union said.