The NSW Rail Train and Bus Union has made a last-ditch effort to stop a showdown with the state government in the Fair Work Commission tomorrow, as commuters take a gamble every time they step on a train platform.
Sydney trains ran mostly on time today with minimal delays across the network, but commuters are travelling blind as industrial action remains in place from the RTBU.
It means train drivers and guards can just not show up to work without warning, sending the network into a meltdown similar to the chaotic scenes seen on Friday, when 862 workers abandoned their posts.
The future of the RTBU’s industrial action hangs in the balance as it goes to the Fair Work Commission tomorrow against the NSW government.
However, in a last-minute pitch last night, the union asked Secretary for Transport Josh Murray to lock in the terms on the table last week, and seek arbitration on the eleventh-hour claim for a $4500 bonus.
Today, Premier Chris Minns publicly responded to the letter, telling the union there was “no way” they would give in to the request for arbitration.
”We have made a fair offer to the union, and we’ve done exhaustive negotiations…the goalposts have repeatedly changed and the supposed reason for the dispute has changed more times than anything,” Minns said.
“Those days are over, we will explore every option other than giving in at this point.”
Union Secretary Toby Warnes said the union wanted to avoid going to Fair Work and told reporters that the terms outlined in the letter addressed to Murray would have resulted in “peace” between the union and government.
“I would very much like to avoid it, obviously there are consequences either way,” he said.
“We want to see this deal done, we’re here we can do a deal now…we’re hoping this letter will produce a reasonable outcome.”
While the government and union fight it out in court, a video has emerged online of a Sydney Trains driver stopping a train travelling to Penrith, claiming she hadn’t eaten in six hours.
The video was filmed on Friday, with the driver saying that no one was available to take her shift over after 862 of her colleagues didn’t show up to work.
“I’m entitled to some food, yeah, I’m waiting for someone to come and take the train off me, so they can take you to [Penrith] mate, because I need some food,” the driver can be heard saying in the video.
”If I pass out on the train while the train’s moving apparently that doesn’t look good on paper either and then I can’t open the door for [you].”
Warnes said he hadn’t seen the video.
“I don’t know about the details, saying that I think 6.5 hours without food most people would cause disruptions.
“It would not have been a pleasant day to be on the network last Friday.”
Sydney Trains says it’s investigating the incident.
