Image: Image: Windmemories, Wikimedia Commons
The NSW railway union has threatened to strike Sydney railway services unless the government commits to operating trains for all hours of Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as NSW government pledges four days of free light rail trips from Monday.
The dramatic developments are the result of two simultaneous disputes. The threat to halt train services is the latest high-stakes ultimatum in a long-running dispute between the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) and the New South Wales Government over pay and conditions. In September, the union sought to prevent the Bankstown line metro conversion, before relenting after a staffing deal with the government.
RTB Union calls for strike if demand for 24-Hour NSW Train is unmet by NSW Govt.
Last week, Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink received notice from the railway union that it will ban and strike against all work from Thursday 14 November indefinitely unless their demand for increased late-night services is met. It also stated that light rail drivers will reduce speeds to ten km/h from Monday 11 November, which is Remembrance Day, if light rail fares were not reduced to fifty cents. This was part of a separate dispute as the union tussles with the network’s private operator over pay.
RTBU New South Wales secretary Toby Warnes accused the government of holding up negotiations, remarking that rail workers’ pay “has effectively gone backwards while government and management twiddle their thumbs and constantly delay progress” on negotiations.
“They won’t even talk to us about pay. We are stalled in the trenches at the moment.”
The union, along with five others also representing railway employees, seeks a 32 percent pay rise over four years and a reduction in the working week from 38 hours to 35 without any decrease in pay.
Suburban train services wind up progressively from midnight, the last terminating before 2am. Whilst suburban services are replaced by NightRide buses in the latest hours, some intercity and regional services continue to operate. Light rail services run until 1am.
Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland pushed back on running trains all hours of the night, noting that 24-hour train operation is “extremely complex” and would affect maintenance work and service punctuality. 24-hour services are only provided for special events.
Earlier this year, Doctor Geoffrey Clifton of the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies cast doubt on whether extending trains through all hours of the night is the best option. Instead, he argued for improving late-night bus services.
“There are many parts of Sydney which miss out on night services and many of the overnight bus services are not part of the NightRide network so it is not well integrated and not well advertised,” Clifton commented.
“London does much better with an integrated Night Bus network with special bus stop signs and maps showing all the overnight public transport options. Many American cities have Night Owl or Blue Night services which are also very well publicised.”
24-hour trains were curtailed after the introduction of NightRide in 1989.
NSW Govt. offers free light rail services for 4 days following dispute with RTBU
The government announced on Friday that Sydney light rail services would be free for four days from Monday. This shortly followed the union’s demand for fifty cent fares, and was intended to help resolve the dispute between the RTBU and private operator Transdev. The spat has been ongoing for more than a year.
Transport for NSW secretary Josh Murray urged the parties “to continue that discussion [about pay] in good faith and not to put passengers and the good running of the city’s transport on Monday morning at risk.”
