Industrial action could halve train services on New Year’s Eve, union says

Rail unions concede that the number of trains running in Sydney over New Year’s Eve could be halved by the resumption of industrial action, which the state Labor government says it will use every legal lever to stop.

A day after workers voted in favour of a fresh round of industrial action, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) notified the state’s rail operators that a raft of work bans and other actions will take effect from the early hours of December 28.

They include a cumulative reduction each day in the number of kilometres train crew will work, which poses one of the greatest disruptions to the rail network because it will make staff rostering more difficult.

New Year’s Eve celebrations could be disrupted if unions push ahead with work bans and other actions on Sydney’s rail network.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

Asked how many fewer trains will run on New Year’s Eve, RTBU state secretary Toby Warnes said the kilometres that drivers and guards would operate each train would be about half the usual number, which he estimated would then result in a halving of the number of trains running.

“It certainly won’t mean that trains won’t run. What it means is that it makes it harder for senior management to roster workers onto trains,” he said.

“It will absolutely disrupt the rail network, but it won’t be commuter chaos.”

The government wants to put on an extra 1000 train services to help cater for more than a million people descending on Sydney’s harbour front for New Year’s Eve fireworks.

Rail workers and the government have been in dispute over a new pay deal for months.Credit: Wolter Peeters

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said any industrial action at New Year’s was intolerable given the enormous demands on the public transport system from more than 1.5 million revellers.

“This is a big transport event, and it is a big global event,” she said. “No level of industrial action is tolerable this time of the year, particularly given how tough it’s been for families and businesses.”

However, Warnes said the unions were at a point where the government was not engaging in talks, which was why workers needed to take action to force it back to the negotiating table.

“It’s been absolute radio silence. We hope that the government comes to table and comes to us with an offer,” he said.

The Electrical Trades Union, which has about 940 members at the rail operators, also notified of hour-long work stoppages and bans on switching on or off high-voltage power on the rail system.

Haylen warned the government would pursue “all legal options” to ensure passengers and businesses were protected from disruption to the rail network from industrial action.

“No level of industrial action is acceptable. We need to be able to provide those services ... on New Year’s Eve,” she said.

Sydney Trains sought the intervention of the workplace umpire on Tuesday by applying to Fair Work for it to mediate in negotiations with the unions over a new pay deal. Both sides will return to the commission on Wednesday.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said uncertainty killed trade and surety about the train system was needed to avoid hurting businesses and the state economy. “This is a critical time for the NSW economy – not a time to play chicken with the NSW economy,” he said.

The long-running impasse brought Sydney’s rail network close to a shutdown in late November before the government gained an injunction in the Federal Court which blocked the RTBU and five other unions from resuming industrial action.

Business NSW chief executive Dan Hunter said even the threat of strike action was damaging to businesses and the economy.

“There are businesses at the moment in the CBD and greater Sydney that are on a knife edge, and the threat of strike action alone could be the straw that sends them into bankruptcy,” he said. “We need this to be solved, and we need it to be solved quickly.”

Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond said there was a danger that Sydney’s brand as a destination was damaged if the public transport network was severely disrupted.

“People need to know this is a great city to visit, and when you get here, it’s easy to get around,” she said.

The government’s opening offer to rail workers comprised wage rises of 9.5 per cent over three years, as well as a further 0.5 per cent in the first if a deal is reached in a “timely manner”.

It is substantially lower than demands from the RTBU and the five other unions for a 32 per cent pay rise over four years.

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