Hundreds of NSW road workers, construction crews and other transport staff will strike for 24 hours from early on Thursday over the government’s public sector wage offer, which they argue amounts to a pay cut due to surging inflation.
The industrial action from 6am across the state will coincide with rail workers walking off the job early on Thursday for four hours, which the government warns will cause significant disruption to Sydney’s train network in the morning.
The 24-hour strike by mostly road workers who are members of the Australian Workers’ Union comes three weeks after the state’s industrial umpire ordered them to abandon a planned day-long stoppage.
Workers who maintain roads and bridges including the Harbour Bridge will strike for 24 hours from 6am on Thursday.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone
However, union delegates held a meeting on Wednesday at which they decided to push ahead with a 24-hour strike across the state after the order had expired.
Most of the workers who will walk off the job on Thursday maintain highways, roads and bridges, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Australian Workers’ Union NSW branch secretary Tony Callinan said the transport workers were striking because of the government’s cap on wages amid surging inflation, which meant their real wages would drop significantly.
“It is a wage cut, given inflation. These workers are emergency responders … and worked right through the COVID pandemic,” he said.
Rail commuters have been warned to expect major disruptions to services on Thursday morning. Credit: Louise Kennerley
The government has faced widespread industrial action from school teachers, nurses and midwives, and other public servants over its wage offer.
Its offer for public sector workers averages 3 per cent a year, which includes half a percentage point increase in superannuation payments. The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show inflation has increased to 6.1 per cent through the past 12 months.
Rail workers will also stop work for four hours from 12.01am on Thursday, and the union representing them has warned of further industrial action in the coming weeks if a deal with the government over new intercity trains, as well as pay and conditions, cannot be reached.
Acting Transport Minister Natalie Ward said she was disappointed the rail unions continued to take industrial action despite the government’s wages offer. “It seems in an election year all they want to do is continue to disrupt commuters,” she said.
Ward said the government’s wages policy for public sector workers was “fair and reasonable” and higher than that which was offered by other Australian states.
Sydney Trains has advised rail commuters to expect major disruptions to services on Thursday morning while it manages the flow-on effects of the four-hour stoppage.
“Although staff will return to work at 4am on Thursday, customers will need to allow plenty of extra time while trains return to the network,” Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland said.
“The timetable is expected to be fully operational by around 8am on Thursday morning.”
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