Reprieve for commuters in Sydney train dispute

Unions have backed off further disruptive actions as government continues a legal bid to end them. Photo: AAP
Key unions have withdrawn industrial action affecting Sydney’s rail network, providing relief for commuters hit by widespread travel disruption in recent months.
But the NSW government will continue a legal push to permanently terminate work bans on the train network despite the peace offering from the group being led by the Rail, Tram and Bus Union.
State officials continuing with action before the Fair Work Commission on Wednesday, because the Electrical Trades Union – which is also involved in negotiations – only paused its actions until the end of March.
“This means that the notified hourly stoppages could still go ahead,” a government spokesman said.
“This uncertainty is intolerable,” they said.
The commission previously ordered the combined rail unions to suspend industrial action following widespread delays across the NSW train network as it could not hear the application to terminate the measures within the legislated five-day window.
The withdrawn actions include speed limits on services, which had caused cascading cancellations across the train system, while other minor actions remain in place.
Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou welcomed the reprieve from industrial action.
“It was already clear that no one was winning in this rolling dispute but commuters and business operators were obviously losing,” he said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns came back to work early last Thursday as the eight-month dispute with the rail union escalated, seeking an urgent hearing to have the industrial umpire resolve the issue due to the “incalculable” costs to commuters and businesses.
Union officials want a 32 per cent pay rise over four years, but the government has offered only 15 per cent over the same period – including a federally mandated superannuation increase.
A union counteroffer, details of which have not been publicly disclosed, was rejected. A pay deal is yet to be agreed.
“Unfortunately despite best efforts … the government has not been able to reach an agreement with the combined rail unions,” a spokesperson for Transport Minister Jo Haylen said on Tuesday.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union has been contacted for comment.
-AAP