The months-long industrial action by Sydney Rail workers continues to cause havoc, as the state government refused the Rail, Train and Bus Union’s (RTBU) two demands to cease strikes on New Year’s Eve. Their peace offerings included free fares for passengers and dropping the legal case against the union.
On Sunday, the RTBU offered to pause all industrial action — aside from minor measures such as wearing union T-shirts — until January 7 as long as their conditions were met. Early on Monday morning, the New South Wales government rejected the offer.
“We will keep all legal options on the table to ensure this industrial action does not impact the holiday period,” a government spokesperson said, per the Sydney Morning Herald.
“As we’ve said before, this would cost millions of dollars that we don’t have. And if we did do it, the people of NSW know that it has to be paid for by them in another way. It’s just not affordable.”
The late-night offer by the RTBU was a result of the government’s urgent Fair Work submission, in which it claims that the industrial action on Sydney Rail was causing economic harm and/or was a threat to public safety. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, large hospitality groups, such as Laundy Hotels, Merivale, Ryan’s Hotel Group and Luna Park have also filed a separate submission outlining how the industrial action has harmed their respective businesses.
Now, the public will have to wait until the government’s submission is heard in the Fair Work Commission on Christmas Eve to find out whether the industrial action on New Year’s Eve will go ahead.
As it stands, Sydney Rail will reportedly be down 200 drivers on New Year’s Eve if the industrial action goes ahead.
On Friday, Police Commissioner Karen Webb told reporters she has “grave concerns” about the safety of punters on New Year’s Eve if the strikes continue.
“Each year we police New Year’s Eve on the basis 250,000 people can come in and then safely leave the city,” she said.
“If trains aren’t available and people can’t leave the city, I have large concerns about the risk that will create to the public. I haven’t ruled out that I will recommend to the government that we cancel the fireworks. It’s that serious.”
The union is demanding a pay rise of 8 per cent, per year, for four years (32 per cent in total). Premier Chris Minns has stated that this is unaffordable and the Labor government wouldn’t agree to these conditions whilst denying nurses a similar claim.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters the RTBU would “lose public support” by continuing to strike through the silly season.
“The Minns Government are being reasonable and we support their actions, I know it’s before the Fair Work Commission tomorrow and I hope that provides some resolution,” he said.
“The NYE fireworks is a global event that showcases Sydney, this beautiful city to the whole world. And it’s important that people be able to get into and out the suburbs, the retail centres of our city in Sydney in order to be able to do their Christmas shopping and prepare for Christmas.”
We’ll have to wait and see what happens in the courts tomorrow, but for the time being, I’d keep those New Year’s Eve plans local, if I were you.
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