Image: RTBU (left), NSW Premier Chris Minns (right)
Protected industrial action for rail unions could return as early as next month, as unions seek to overturn a federal court ruling barring them from holding industrial action until July 1.
After months of rail strikes in Sydney, the Fair Work Commission ordered unions to halt stoppages until July 1 in February.
Last month, the Commission announced its decision on Wednesday night, though it did not approve the six-month suspension that the New South Wales government had requested.
However, The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU), along with several other unions representing railway workers, has filed an application with the Fair Work Commission to lift the order or end the suspension on Friday.
The unions are seeking to shorten the 14-week suspension, arguing that it has not resolved their ongoing pay dispute with the Minns government.
If successful, they will be able to hold industrial action from Monday next week.
Rail unions Demand 32% Pay Rise, State Government Offers 15%
The unions have been fighting for a 32 per cent pay rise over four years, a 35-hour work week and an additional 1 per cent in superannuation contributions. Meanwhile, the state government has proposed a pay rise of 15 per cent over four years, plus a legislated one per cent rise in superannuation.
The latest dispute centres around a $4,500 bonus, initially introduced as a one-off payment to acknowledge the additional pressures workers faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government insists that the bonus was never meant to be part of a permanent compensation package and is therefore non-recurring.
Unions NSW calls out NSW Government for Stalling Negotiations
According to Unions NSW boss Mark Morey, the rail bureaucrats within the NSW government were stalling negotiations by “clawing back” conditions they had already agreed to.
Mr Morey called on new Transport Minister John Graham to force Transport for NSW to finalise a deal, as reported by The Daily Telegraph.
“I know the rail unions and the travelling public have had enough of it. It’s up to the government now to close this out,” he said.
Premier Chris Minns rejected the accusations on Thursday morning.
When asked if the government had gone back on promises made before the suspension order, Minns responded, “No, absolutely not. It may be that they’ve made demands that we haven’t agreed to in the past.”
RTBU Warns Fair Work Commission’s Decision Sets ‘Dangerous Precedent’ For Workers
Last month, the RTBU described the Fair Work Commissions’ recommendation to cool off industrial action until July as a move that sets a “dangerous precedent.”
“It has set an industrial agenda for aggressive employers, which should be a serious concern not just for rail workers, but for workers everywhere,” the RTBU said in a statement.
“Our fear is that the NSW Government has no intention of finalising this bargain, and the lack of industrial action, or the threat of it, will mean it will continue to sit on its hands rather than reach agreement with its rail workforce.”
“Our rail workers – rail cleaners, guards, station staff, drivers and others working on the state’s rail network – all just want a fair agreement that acknowledges the hard work they do and helps keep commuters safe. Hopefully we can now move closer to that,” the RTBU said.
