Sydney commuters, brace yourselves! Your New Year’s Eve plans might be in for a wild ride, and not in a fun way. Industrial action is set to resume following a significant Federal Court ruling that has reignited tensions between rail unions and the NSW government. So this means those train strikes we’ve been hearing about are back on the menu.
Throughout 2024, Sydney commuters have faced numerous disruptions due to ongoing industrial action. The disputes have centred around pay and working conditions, with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) pushing for substantial improvements.
The Minns government, which came to power promising to improve industrial relations, has struggled to resolve the ongoing conflict.
Earlier this month, the NSW government managed to secure a temporary injunction to prevent a complete shutdown of the rail network. However, today’s Federal Court ruling rejected that injunction, siding with the RTBU. This ruling allows rail workers to legally resume industrial action, meaning strikes could begin immediately.
RTBU secretary Toby Warnes said, “The government’s case was always based on very weak legal grounds; we were always confident that we were going to have a victory.” He added that members would be informed to “enforce the bans that were on immediately before the injunction two Sundays ago”, outside the court per ABC.
So, what does this mean for commuters? Well, industrial action could kick off immediately. Warnes warned that it “may have a significant impact today,” noting that Sydney Trains had “two weeks to prepare for this eventuality”.
With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, the New South Wales government is in fact freaking out. The union has already voted to initiate further industrial action from December 28, which could disrupt one of Sydney’s busiest nights of the year.
Transport for NSW secretary Josh Murray described the potential fallout at a press conference this afternoon: “That is not just impractical; it is not just a nuisance factor for government as was stated; it is reckless. It is impossible to run New Year’s Eve at that kind of restriction.”
In response to today’s ruling, the NSW government is taking action. Transport Minister Jo Haylen confirmed they’ve lodged an application with the Fair Work Commission to limit industrial action. She cited concerns about “community safety and economic harm” as key reasons behind their move.
Despite these efforts, the core issue remains unresolved. The unions are demanding a 32 per cent pay rise over four years, which has become a major sticking point in negotiations. Warnes reiterated their position: “We are still at an impasse. Our door is open for the next two weeks at least to get this deal done.”
While the government doesn’t know which specific train services will be impacted, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union has notified the transport department of “200 bans”.
Unfortunately, Haylen said at the press conference that the NSW government and the union are “a long way apart” in their negotiations.
So, if you’re planning on using Sydney trains anytime soon, especially around New Year’s Eve, keep your eyes peeled for updates. You might need to dust off the old bicycle or get really good at convincing your friend with a car to give you a lift. Good luck!!
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