The threat to stop Sydney’s trains, unless they run 24 hours a day

Work stoppages threaten to cripple Sydney’s passenger rail network from next Thursday unless the Minns government accedes to union demands for trains to operate around the clock for several days amid a dispute over a new pay deal.

In a major escalation of the protracted dispute, the Rail Tram and Bus Union has notified the state’s rail operators of a ban on any work by its members unless trains operate 24 hours a day on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

An escalating industrial dispute threatens to severely disrupt Sydney’s train services.Credit: Louise Kennerley

The ban is due to start next Thursday, continuing indefinitely, and will bring Sydney’s passenger train network to a halt if workers proceed. The latest trains run at about 1.50am and the earliest they restart is about 3.10am.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) said the protected industrial action was intended to force the government to “properly engage with” and finalise bargaining claims for a new enterprise agreement.

State secretary Toby Warnes said the government was dragging its feet in responding to its claims for better pay and conditions for rail workers more than six months after the previous enterprise agreement expired.

“It’s unacceptable that we have gotten to this point. Our members’ pay has effectively gone backwards while government and management twiddle their thumbs and constantly delay progress on the [enterprise agreement],” he said. “They won’t even talk to us about pay. We are stalled in the trenches at the moment.”

The RTBU and five other unions have been seeking a 32 per cent pay rise over four years and a 35-hour work-week, down from 38 hours, without a cut in pay.

Transport for NSW said the state’s rail operators were working to minimise disruption to passengers as much as possible following notification of the ban.

“As contingency plans are developed, we will provide further information for passengers about any necessary changes to timetables prior to the action,” the agency said.

The agency did not say whether the government would agree to operate trains 24 hours a day.

The RTBU, which has about 10,000 members at Sydney Trains and NSW Trains, has also notified the government of a gradual reduction in kilometres that crews will work on suburban and intercity trains from next Thursday, piling pressure on operators to roster on more drivers and guards.

The ratcheting-up of action comes six weeks after the government made travel free on passenger trains over a weekend to pressure the rail union to drop work bans. The union subsequently called off its action and the two sides resumed an intensive period of bargaining.

Passengers also face disruption to services from an ongoing pay dispute between tram workers and the operator of Sydney’s light rail network, Transdev.

The RTBU has warned that drivers will reduce tram speeds to 10 kilometres an hour from Monday for a week unless the government cuts fares to 50¢ a trip.

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