‘Worse and worse every day’: Sydney rail commuters face more frustration

The NSW government has stepped up its fight against the rail unions by again taking them to the workplace tribunal in an attempt to resolve a protracted wage dispute that threatens to slow services on Sydney’s passenger train network next week.

In its latest legal manoeuvre aimed at ending the months-long stalemate with the unions, the government went to the Fair Work Commission on Friday, arguing that the bitter stoush over pay could not be resolved and urging the industrial umpire to arbitrate the dispute.

Premier Chris Minns and Transport Minister Jo Haylen are ratcheting up pressure on the rail unions in the drawn-out dispute.Credit: Steven Siewert

The move comes five days before commuters face renewed frustration as union members restart industrial action that would include reduced train speed limits on some routes from Wednesday.

Transport for NSW co-ordinator-general Howard Collins said the lowered speeds were likely to have “very little” impact on most suburban Sydney train services, but there would be roll-on effects for services on the outer suburban rail lines, where trains typically travelled at faster speeds.

“It’s like a ratchet, it gets worse and worse every day, and … that means relying on buses and other means for people to travel,” Collins said.

He said more people choosing to drive instead of catching trains would heap pressure on the road network, including on northern Sydney’s Warringah Freeway, which is undergoing major upgrades.

“The last thing we want is even another dozen cars on that road while we do that extensive work,” Collins said.

“So, from our point of view, the best thing that parties can do is get together and negotiate.”

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) on Friday accused the government of being unwilling to negotiate; however, Premier Chris Minns fired back that the unions had “done nothing so far to get an outcome”.

“I’m hoping for a breakthrough, but I’m not holding my breath,” Minns said on Friday.

Rail, Train and Bus Union (RTBU) NSW branch secretary Toby Warnes says the government has “disengaged” from the pay dispute.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

“The government has come to the table with a good faith offer that’s above inflation that will see, over time, workers paid real wage increases,” Minns said. “We want an agreement, but the agreement can’t just be a blank cheque handed over from the government to the union. We had six months of negotiations.”

Minns said agencies would “do everything we can to minimise disruption on the transport network”.

“I’d urge the unions to get around the table, to call off these strikes and industrial bans because they’re causing real delays to regular people that need to get to work by using public transport.”

The RTBU and five other unions are seeking a 32 per cent pay rise over four years for their members, an increase that is significantly higher than the government’s opening offer of an increase of 9.5 per cent over three years.

RTBU NSW branch secretary Toby Warnes said the government had “disengaged”, and the unions hadn’t “heard a peep from the government since mid-December”.

“I’m an eternal optimist and I hope we get something out of today,” Warnes told ABC Radio on Friday.

“The biggest surprise to us is … there doesn’t seem to be a willingness to negotiate at all. They really need to come back to the table, and it’s baffling us as to why they’re not.”

After a ceasefire during the Christmas-New Year period in the dispute, the RTBU will restart at least eight major work bans from January 15, including a reduction in speeds on sections of track where trains can usually travel more than 80km/h.

A ban will also be placed on RTBU members at Sydney Trains and NSW Trains working with contractors. Another will prevent work on reinstating train services if they have been cancelled.

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