Rail workers to take further actions next week following government’s refusal to meet

Media release, 24 June: Rail workers will be forced to undertake a number of protected industrial actions, following the NSW Government’s decision to cancel a planned meeting with the union today. 

Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) Secretary, Alex Claassens, said he was contacted late last night and told that the meeting with transport officials and Ministers planned for this morning would no longer take place.

The actions, which may have an impact on commuter services, include:

• Tuesday 28 June: train crew go slow (24hrs). All trains will be slowed to a max of 60 km/hr
• Wednesday 29 June: Indefinite ban on members moving back to the Rail Operations Centre
• Thursday 30 June: Ban on train drivers travelling passenger (24hrs) – meaning train drivers will only work out of their current depot; and aban on work associated with Sydney Metro (indefinite)
• Friday 1 July: A ban on operating foreign-made trains

The actions are in addition to the ongoing ban on cleaners cleaning up hazardous waste.

“It’s beyond disappointing that the NSW Government is continuing to play political games at the expense of workers and commuters,” Mr Claassens said.

“Rail workers have acted in good faith throughout this whole saga. All we want is for the government to deliver on the basic safety and workforce issues that we’ve been talking about for many months.

“We never want to have to take industrial action, but the NSW Government – in particular some Ministers – seem intent on forcing us into that position, no matter what the impact on commuters and workers.

“Rail safety is not a game for us, but it seems like it is for some Ministers within the NSW Government.” Mr Claassens said the union was hopeful today’s meeting – which had already been postponed by the government multiple times – would provide workers with an update on the ‘package’ of claims that was to be taken to the so-called Expenditure Review Committee, as well as details on a line item from Tuesday’s budget which appear to relate to the New InterCity Fleet.