Commuters set for more train pain as union capitalises on fallen Transport Minister
Commuters are set for more pain on Sydney’s train network next week as the rail union moves to capitalise on the downfall of former Transport Minister Jo Haylen, but the Premier has vowed to quash their plans.
NSW
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NSW Premier Chris Minns says the government “would not hesitate” to take fresh legal action against the rail union if they resume industrial action and wreak havoc on commuters next week.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday morning, Mr Minns said it would take “widespread disruptions” for the government to take the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) back to the Fair Work Commission, however, he did not suggest there would be any pre-emptive attempt to strike out the action.
It comes after the RTBU said it would reintroduce industrial bans next Wednesday to capitalise on the downfall of former Transport Minister Jo Haylen.
“I’m pretty sure the union notified 150 different kinds of bans, so it’s not possible for me to go through it one by one and let you know if that ban was implemented, whether we would pursue court action or not,” he said.
“Suffice to say, if there were widespread disruptions, if people couldn’t get to work, if those that work in schools or want to get their kids to school were disrupted, we wouldn’t hesitate to protect the taxpayer, and we wouldn’t hesitate to protect the travelling public.”
In a message to its members on Wednesday, the rail union said Ms Haylen’s departure presented an “opportunity” to renew their cause, despite assuring the Fair Work Commission in January it would not reintroduce bans to disrupt commuters after the NSW government launched a legal bid to end further action.
Despite admitting Ms Haylen’s resignation was a “black eye” for the government, Mr Minns would not accept the union had resumed industrial action off the back of the saga.
“I think they (industrial action) would have been around, whether we had the last week or not,” he said.
One of the three new bans will again result in trains going 23km/h slower in the areas with a speed limit of 80km/h.
The union has said it will stop the action if the government refunds commuter fares for the week between January 13 and 17, when the union’s previous industrial action crippled the Sydney Train network.
Mr Minns promised commuters a fare free day – but only once a deal with the union has been achieved.
From next Wednesday, there will also be a ban on selling alcohol on regional trains.
The union told members Ms Haylen’s departure made way for a fresh start at the negotiation table.
“In the midst of an ugly and tense bargaining dispute, the departure of the transport minister presents both a threat and an opportunity,” the message said.
“A threat in that we don’t know how a new transport minister will behave towards us, and an opportunity if the government wants to clear its dirty laundry and give them a fresh start.
“Our message to the new transport minister and the premier is to sit down and get it done.”
The Minns government previously indicated it was prepared to take the union back to the Fair Work Commission to stop the bans should they have a significant impact on commuters.
“The RTBU has made binding undertakings to the Fair Work Commission relating to industrial action,” a NSW government spokesperson said.
“As a result, these proposed restrictions are expected to be of minor disruption to the travelling public.
“But we’ll keep a close eye on the action to ensure the union abides by those undertakings.”
The union said it would look to ramp up their industrial action by introducing even more bans by the end of the week. The union is demanding a 32 per cent pay rise over four years, which the government has rejected.
RTBU NSW secretary Toby Warnes said it had been more than 60 days since the NSW government had a wage negotiation meeting with the union.
He said he hoped the new interim transport minister would get to an agreement.
“John Graham is not sworn in yet. We’re hopeful he’ll come to the position with a commonsense approach and commit to reimbursing commuters and sitting down with workers to negotiate a swift outcome to the current dispute,” he said.
“Everyone wants to end this dispute, with the exception of some bureaucrats in Transport for NSW and our politicians.”
Originally published as Commuters set for more train pain as union capitalises on fallen Transport Minister
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