Latest news with #TramandBusUnion
The Age
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Sydney's commuters are sick of delays regardless of who is to blame
If the NSW Labor government hopes commuters' memories are short, it is hopeful at best, deluded at worst. When public services fail, governments are in the firing line. Tuesday's peak hour chaos, which started as students were trying to get home from school and extended well into the commuter hour, will have seriously tested the patience of heavy rail users. It was a broken overhead live wire landing on the roof of a train in Sydney's west that caused the delays but that is irrelevant. Sydney's commuters are tired of delays, regardless of who is to blame. Only as recently as February, commuters were collateral damage in the bitter ongoing wages dispute between the state government and rail unions. Few will forget Valentine's Day this year, when Sydney experienced massive train delays and cancellations. The city was thrown into chaos as a significant number of train drivers and guards called in sick, according to Transport for NSW. The unions, however, maintained the absences were no more unusual than other Fridays. After an elongated industrial dispute, last minute-negotiations broke down when the government said it was blindsided by a union claim for a one-off $4500 sign-on bonus. 'I think the union is gaslighting Sydney,' NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said. The Rail, Tram and Bus Union was having none of it. They insisted that the bonus was a deal signed by the former Liberal transport minister David Elliott. It was a classic case of he said, she said. It was not the only major disruption on the city's rail network during the months-long dispute, but it had a big impact.
Sydney Morning Herald
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney's commuters are sick of delays regardless of who is to blame
If the NSW Labor government hopes commuters' memories are short, it is hopeful at best, deluded at worst. When public services fail, governments are in the firing line. Tuesday's peak hour chaos, which started as students were trying to get home from school and extended well into the commuter hour, will have seriously tested the patience of heavy rail users. It was a broken overhead live wire landing on the roof of a train in Sydney's west that caused the delays but that is irrelevant. Sydney's commuters are tired of delays, regardless of who is to blame. Only as recently as February, commuters were collateral damage in the bitter ongoing wages dispute between the state government and rail unions. Few will forget Valentine's Day this year, when Sydney experienced massive train delays and cancellations. The city was thrown into chaos as a significant number of train drivers and guards called in sick, according to Transport for NSW. The unions, however, maintained the absences were no more unusual than other Fridays. After an elongated industrial dispute, last minute-negotiations broke down when the government said it was blindsided by a union claim for a one-off $4500 sign-on bonus. 'I think the union is gaslighting Sydney,' NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said. The Rail, Tram and Bus Union was having none of it. They insisted that the bonus was a deal signed by the former Liberal transport minister David Elliott. It was a classic case of he said, she said. It was not the only major disruption on the city's rail network during the months-long dispute, but it had a big impact.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Yahoo
Massive warning for train commuters
Sydney commuters are set for more headaches with industrial action expected to continue causing transport chaos across the city. Ongoing negotiations between the rail union and the NSW state government appear no closer to being resolved with more mass delays expected for commuters this week if the NSW Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RBTU) decides to strike again. The long-running pay dispute escalated on Friday leaving many commuters stranded, with more than 800 cancelled services. But (RBTU) state secretary Toby Warnes said the train network could be thrown into chaos again unless the 'lockout' notices issued by the government are rescinded. 'This is going to come as cold comfort to commuters, but we don't know [if] these 5000 lockout notices [will] stay in place,' Warnes told the Today Show on Sunday. 'The nature of these lockout notices say that if you do come to work and you are found to be going slow, which is our original ban, you will lose an entire day's pay. 'So our members are in a really hard position at the moment, choosing between potentially working for free for a day or not coming to work at all. 'It could be the same situation as Friday or it could be fine as we've seen over the weekend — so it's very unpredictable.' The Fair Work Commission is expected to hand down its decision on whether it will uphold the state government's 418 application around 1.30pm on Sunday. The application is an order to stop or prevent unprotected industrial action. 'The government is spending millions and millions of dollars trying to fight members,' Warnes said on Facebook. ' Stay united, stay strong … we are going to get a good deal out of this. 'We are going to get a good deal out of this and we'll be back shortly tomorrow to ensure that you're updated every step of the way.' Many rail lines faced delays on Sunday due to 'trackwork', 'changed timetables' and 'driver shortages', Transport for NSW said. Commuters are urged to check the Transport for NSW website for updates and plan ahead.
