NSW government legal action : The NSW government has expressed hopes of resuming normal train services tomorrow but has initiated new legal proceedings to prevent industrial action planned for New Year’s Eve.
Earlier today, the government faced a setback when the Federal Court dismissed its attempt to block industrial action by the Rail, Tram, and Bus Union (RTBU), reinstating around 200 work bans by the union.
Union Secretary Toby Warnes announced that industrial action would commence immediately after the court’s decision.
However, in an afternoon update, transport authorities indicated they had not yet been informed of the specific strike actions to be undertaken.
Despite this, they remain confident in operating a regular timetable tomorrow.
NSW Government Takes Legal Action to Prevent New Year’s Eve Train Chaos
We are still uncertain to what extent the unions plan to reimplement the existing bans starting today, but we will work to clarify that as quickly as possible,” said Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Jo Haylen highlighted the challenges of adjusting the network in response to industrial action.
“This isn’t a toy train set,” she stated.
“You can’t simply rearrange it with the snap of your fingers and expect it to meet the needs of the millions of people across Sydney who depend on it daily.
Government Pursues Legal Measures to Protect Commuters and Businesses
The reinstatement of the work bans has raised the possibility that workers could shut down the rail network if the government fails to agree to operate train services 24 hours a day starting tonight.
However, Union Secretary Toby Warnes did not specify the exact actions the union might take.
“That action remains very much on the table,” Warnes told reporters. “It’s now up to the government to respond as it sees fit… RTBU members are prepared to do whatever it takes to secure what they deserve.”
Other planned industrial actions by the union include imposing distance limits for drivers and deactivating Opal card readers.
Following the RTBU’s vote earlier this week to proceed with additional industrial actions beginning December 28, Transport Minister Jo Haylen confirmed the government is pursuing further legal measures to avert disruption on New Year’s Eve.
“This application is based on concerns about community safety and economic harm,” she stated.
“The government is exploring all legal options to prioritize passengers and safeguard them, as well as businesses, during this critical time of year.”
She accused the union of negotiating in bad faith and acknowledged that the two sides remain far apart on resolving workers’ demands for a 32% pay increase over four years.
“They’re willing to discuss the issue, but only if we agree with their terms,” Haylen said.
“We will not negotiate under pressure.
“Our goal is to ensure a reliable service for families and businesses during this season, which is why the government is taking legal steps to protect passengers.”
Leave a Reply