Update on Federal Court Case and Upcoming Actions

Dear Members,

After the NSW Government’s vicious legal attack on our union, and our planned Opal action, we made an application last week to the Federal Court for an expedited hearing (have the case heard as soon as possible) so that the legality of the Opal action, and the government’s threats to members, could be decided once and for all.

The application to expedite the case was supported by the government. Unfortunately, yesterday afternoon, the Court ruled that the case will not be expedited and therefore will not be heard until February or March 2023.

We are disappointed with the Federal Court’s decision not to expedite an urgent hearing on our proposed industrial action to give commuters free travel as we believe it is in the best interests of our hardworking frontline members and the community to have this question resolved as soon as possible. EA delegates will once again meet to discuss the union’s next move and plan for further industrial action.

Regardless, it is clear that the only option is to return to the well-trodden path of disruptive industrial action.

The government may be heartlessly hell bent on dragging this EA out until the March 2023 election, but we are committed to getting this EA done.

Thank you to the members who have been in contact with their delegates regarding actions for the November calendar. We will have this finalised for members by this weekend.

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

26 October 2022

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