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Visit the Opal card industrial action paused as NSW Government launches unprecedented attack
Dear Members,
We have just met with the EA Delegates Committee and have decided to pause the Opal gates industrial action which was due to kick off tomorrow.
We have been left with no choice but to pause the action following the NSW Government’s decision to launch the most vicious attack on workers since the Waterfront dispute in 1998, suing us in the Federal Court.
Everyone can see what the Government is really trying to do here – rather than doing the right thing and trying to reach an agreement, they want to bankrupt the union, take on our members, and tangle us up in legal cases until after the March 2023 state election. This is politics at its lowest.
This Government has shown it will stop at nothing. This is a vicious, unprecedented attack on workers and every worker in this state should be watching this case with great concern.
It is bitterly disappointing we have had to pause tomorrow’s planned action which would have delivered free travel for commuters, but we have been left with no choice.
If the government continues to stop us from giving commuters free fares, the only actions available to us are things like strike action. The government seems to want to force us there.
What we want, and what commuters want, is for the government to act like adults and sit down and negotiate so we can get safe trains, fair wages, and conditions for workers.
We are all sick and tired of the NSW Government using our railway as its political toy.
To jeopardise rail safety for the sake of politics is as low as it gets and a classic example of why people have lost trust in our politicians.
This is far from over. We have to respond the only way we can – it’s the only way we can achieve the enterprise agreement we deserve.
Therefore, a new November calendar of actions will be distributed to members in the next couple of days.
If you have a view on actions that should be included, speak to your EA delegate immediately. A list of EA delegates can be found on our website www.ourrightsourfight.com.au.
Together, we’ll get the safe trains and fair wages and conditions we deserve.
In solidarity,
RTBU NSW
Issued & authorised by Alex Claassens, Branch Secretary
Rail, Tram & Bus Union – NSW Branch
Level 4, 321 Pitt Street,
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 92642511
Fax: (02) 92611342
19 October 2022