Minns government docks pay for striking rail workers in extraordinary escalation

Train workers who take part in work bans will have their pay docked, in an extraordinary escalation of the industrial dispute between the rail union and the Minns government.

Train workers who take part in work bans will have their pay docked, in an extraordinary escalation of the industrial dispute between the rail union and the Minns government.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Sydney Trains has begun cutting pay for Rail, Tram and Bus Union members who are refusing to work.

The government is now warning that RTBU members taking part in strike action that prevents them from working will increasingly see a reduction in their pay as industrial action ramps up next week.

Cutting pay for union members who take part in work bans is something that has not been done in recent memory, even under the Coalition.

Sydney Trains first started docking union members’ pay shortly after Christmas over union bans on working with contractors, which led to RTBU members refusing to work on trains or facilities that had been cleaned by external staff.

Rail workers are being warned they will be docked pay if they take part in certain work bans. Picture: NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

In a communique to the union, Sydney Trains boss Matt Longland argued that the action was unprotected.

“If you … refuse to work on trains or facilities that are cleaned by a contractor, you are taking unlawful industrial action,” he said.

“For any period you are not working as directed you will have four hours pay deducted.”

In the last pay cycle, 170 staff had their pay cut by an average of $255 per shift.

The pay cuts have infuriated the RTBU, which claimed Sydney Trains is illegally withholding pay from members.

The RTBU has launched legal action against Sydney trains in a bid to get pay restored to its members.

“Attacking the livelihood of workers in a cost-of-living crisis is a particularly low blow,” the union said.

RTBU Secretary Toby Warnes told the Telegraph that docking members pay was “utterly disgraceful and an underhanded and unlawful tactic by an employer that claims to be an industry leader”.

Premier Chris Minns. Picture: NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

RTBU secretary Toby Warnes. Picture: NewsWire/Nikki Short

Commuters are being warned that a fresh round of work bans could cause delays from next week, particularly on intercity and outer-suburban services where trains rill run slower than the speed limit.

Premier Chris Minns on Friday said the RTBU had done “nothing” to pursue an outcome in the long-running dispute.

He said that if the government gave into union “blackmail”, it would encourage more strikes – putting the National Rugby League grand final, State of Origin and the Sydney Test at risk of commuter chaos.

“We have to draw a line in the sand here,” he said.

The government has made an wage offer to the RTBU during the negotiations, but officials are refusing to say how much the government is willing to pay.

Commuters are being warned of fresh pain next week when industrial action ramps up. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Mr Minns said that Mr Warnes had failed to identify any savings measures to pay for higher wages, something the union disputes.

A government spokeswoman said that a reasonable offer had been put on the table, but workers who strike should expect to pay the price.

“Actions that prevent a person from doing their role will mean that pay will be docked.

“If you don’t work, you won’t be paid.”

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Originally published as Minns government docks pay for striking rail workers in extraordinary escalation