Free train fares for commuters as rail workers forced to continue protected industrial action  

Media release, 14 September 2022: Train commuters will get free trips indefinitely from next week, as rail workers turn off Opal machines following the NSW Government’s continued refusal to provide safe trains and fair working conditions.

Rail workers will turn off Opal machines across the network from 21 September. The protected industrial action will run indefinitely.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) NSW Secretary, Alex Claassens, said the protected action is again designed to cause a headache for the NSW Government and management, without impacting commuters.

“Turning off the Opal machines is the latest protected industrial action rail workers have been forced to take following the NSW Government’s continued refusal to deliver safe train and fair wages and conditions for workers. It’s good news for commuters and will hopefully force the NSW Government to reconsider its current strategy of stalling negotiations and picking public fights,” Mr Claassens said.

“The NSW Government can throw insults and complain all they like, but the reality is it is the government that is holding this process up.

“We’ve been doing everything we possibly can to reach a swift resolution, but the NSW Government is stalling the process at every opportunity.

“All we want is safe trains and fair wages and conditions, but it appears the NSW Government is more interested in playing political games than in delivering the safe trains and fair wages and conditions commuters and workers deserve.

“Turning off the Opal machines will cause a headache for the NSW Government and management and will also have the added bonus of giving free travel to our commuters, who have unfortunately had to bear much of the brunt of the NSW Government’s continued pigheadedness on this issue.”