Ongoing industrial action is set to disrupt the travel plans of Sydney commuters for the next few two weeks with train services being impacted.
Members of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union have been locked in a fierce battle with the NSW government recently and their industrial action is going to continue for a little while yet. Some workers in the state have been refusing to drive foreign-made trains, while the union is also pushing for other agreements, including bans on overtime and working alongside contractors.
The refusal to drive foreign-made trains drew a confused response from Transport Minister David Elliott. “They wear foreign watches, they drink beer made by foreign companies, they’ll probably drive foreign cars,” he said in an interview with 2GB (as per news.com.au). “I think this ban on overtime is actually just ridiculous because the only people who are going to suffer are the families of the railway employees.”
With 75% of Sydney’s rail services involving foreign-made vehicles, the union’s decision is a tough one for the city’s commuters. That’s why Elliott plans to meet with the union today in a bid to sort the continuing dispute. “I think it’s unnecessary industrial action,” he added. “Nobody at the moment denies the fact that a lot of workers deserve a pay rise, but what workers deserve and what the taxpayers can afford are two different things.”
In the meantime, industrial action is set to last until February 21st at the earliest, so expect delays and cancellations until then. “From Sunday 6 February to Monday 21 February, Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink intercity and regional train services could be disrupted due to protected industrial action by the Rail, Tram and Bus Union,” the Transport for NSW website states.
Check the NSW Rail website over the next two weeks to find out the frequency of services and to plan your journey.
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