Sydney Trains and NSW Trains put an offer on the table

Dear Members,

The Combined Rail Unions today attended a further conciliation conference before the Fair Work Commission. In that conciliation, Sydney and NSW Trains rejected the CRU offer put to them last week, and presented their own wages offer.

Unfortunately, the offer was just a recycled version of previous offers. However, it did have some back pay payable at the rate of 2.53% backdated to 1 May 2022 (5 months).

The remainder of their offer was:

1. 2.53% payable from the date of approval of the Agreement
2. 3.03% payable from 1 May 2023
3. Agreement to expire on 1 May 2024
4. $3,185 one off bonus on approval of the Agreement

Since we filed our case for good faith bargaining orders on 1 September 2022, we’ve been engaged in conciliation before the Commission. We have engaged in this process in good faith and in an effort to try and achieve an outcome for members. During the process we’ve tried to work out positions that achieve the best benefit for members.

It’s disappointing that although we engaged in this process in good faith, the Government has continued with the same attitude as they had during previous bargaining.

The offer is woefully inadequate, and we reject it.

We’re still fighting the Government in the Federal Court where we are being sued for our industrial action seeking to provide commuters with free fares. We remain committed to giving commuters free travel as a way to pressure the Government and at the same time provide the public with relief from transport fares.

After hearing the government’s woeful counter offer, EA delegates met this afternoon to finalise the November industrial action calendar. We will be releasing the November industrial action calendar tomorrow, and we hope that the Government sees the light.

In Unity,
RTBU NSW

Issued & authorised by Alex Claassens, Secretary, Rail, Tram and Bus Union – NSW Branch
Level 4, 321 Pitt Street,
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 92642511
nswho@rtbu-nsw.asn.au
www.rtbu-nsw.asn.au

31 October 2022

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