The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) is ramping up industrial action with new work bans and a “go-slow” campaign. The union demands that the New South Wales (NSW) government refund commuters for fares paid during significant disruptions to the rail network in January.
The latest industrial actions follow a month of failed negotiations over a pay dispute, which has dragged on for months. The RTBU has warned that unless commuters are refunded for the fare disruption, train drivers will reduce speeds by 23 km/h on sections of track where the speed limit is 80 km/h or more. This “go-slow” action will begin on February 12 and affect intercity and regional services.
Also Read: Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar Exposes Aussie Woman’s Cancer Scam
Refund Demands Spark Tensions
RTBU NSW Secretary Toby Warnes made it clear that the union wants fare refunds for five days of chaos. This occurred during major disruptions in January due to a combination of industrial action by the union and work bans by the Electrical Trades Union (ETU). Despite the industrial action, Warnes argues that the responsibility for the disruptions lies with Sydney Trains’ failure to maintain infrastructure on time.
“Commuters endured thousands of cancelled and delayed services over a two-day period last month before the Fair Work Commission ordered rail unions to halt industrial action,” Warnes said.
The government’s response has been tepid. Premier Chris Minns announced that commuters would receive a “fare-free” day but stopped short of offering refunds for January. The RTBU has made it clear that it will call off the planned go-slow action if the government agrees to refund fares for the disrupted period. However, the government remains firm in offering only the fare-free day.
A Showdown Looms: New Work Bans in the Pipeline
The conflict escalates further as the RTBU considers introducing additional work bans. Warnes confirmed to ABC News that the union plans to implement more work bans in the coming weeks. These measures aim to increase pressure on the government as the unions remain in a deadlock over the pay dispute.
Warnes said the union was exploring options to “interrupt the way trains run,” including a potential ban on cleaning services. “If a cleaner doesn’t clean a train in the way a train is meant to be cleaned, it may have a knock-on effect the next day in terms of that train not being able to be taken out into service,” Warnes explained.
The new work bans, which are expected to take effect from February 17, will coincide with the go-slow action. The combined rail unions aim to escalate the industrial action to force the government to settle the pay dispute and address commuter concerns. The RTBU’s proposed bans will not be related to the fare refund dispute.
Union’s Bargaining Strategy: Pay and Risk Assessment Issues
The dispute over pay has been ongoing for nine months, with little progress. The government has offered rail workers a 14 per cent pay increase over four years. This includes a 1 per cent rise from savings made by merging the state’s two passenger rail operators. The unions, however, rejected the offer, countering with a request for a 4 per cent pay increase in the first year and 3.5 per cent in the following two years, along with back pay from May last year.
Warnes mentioned that the two sides were “excruciatingly close” to an agreement on pay but pointed to a risk-assessment clause as a major sticking point. The government wants the clause removed from the new agreement, while the unions are insistent on its inclusion.
Government’s Position: Minimal Impact Expected
The government continues to downplay the impact of the latest actions. Premier Minns stated that the new work bans would have minimal effect on the daily operations of the rail network. “The latest information from rail officials is there will be minimal impact on the travelling public,” he said.
However, Minns also indicated that the government would be closely monitoring the situation to ensure the new actions do not breach undertakings made to the Fair Work Commission last month. These undertakings were designed to limit the scope of work bans following the government’s threat to escalate the dispute through legal channels.
Interim Minister Steps In
Following the resignation of former Transport Minister Jo Haylen, who left amid controversy over her use of taxpayer-funded cars, Roads Minister John Graham has stepped in as interim transport minister. Graham now faces the task of overseeing rail negotiations and ensuring industrial action does not escalate further.
Graham will also likely take on the responsibility of resolving the ongoing pay dispute, with both sides set to return to the Fair Work Commission for further conciliation talks on February 17. Despite the challenges, the government hopes to resolve the dispute and avoid further disruption.
Conclusion: A Long Road Ahead
With tensions running high, the future of Sydney’s rail network remains uncertain. As the RTBU pushes for fare refunds and escalates industrial action, commuters and the government are left to navigate an ongoing crisis. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether a resolution is possible or if the dispute will drag on even longer, affecting thousands of train passengers across the state.
The parties involved will need to find common ground soon, or the ongoing disruptions may continue to shape the future of Sydney’s rail services for months to come.
