The Rail Tram and Bus Union (RBTU) has announced further industrial action impacting train services on the Central Coast throughout November, as negotiations with the State Government over pay and safety issues continue to stall.
A series of bans on various services will be held throughout the month, leading up to a network-wide stoppage on December 2, with full details yet to be announced.
RBTU Secretary Alex Claassens said the union has been doing everything possible to reach an agreement – including the Combined Rail Unions putting forward a very modest pay offer to government.
“Unfortunately the NSW Government has chosen yet again to escalate the dispute rather than attempting to reach a resolution,” he said.
“We’ve been left with no choice but to begin further protected industrial action yet again, because allowing the NSW Government to get away with not providing a safe train is not an option.
“And we will not allow the government to bully members into accepting an inferior enterprise agreement.”
Claassens said unresolved questions over the legality of turning off Opal machines at railway stations, with no inconvenience to commuters, meant the union would be forced to restart action which will have some impact on commuter services.
“We will always do everything we can to ensure our actions cause a headache for the government while minimising the impact on commuters, but not taking any action at all and letting the government get away with providing an unsafe railway is not an option,” he said.
“We are hopeful that common-sense will soon prevail and a sensible resolution can soon be reached.”
The full calendar of upcoming protected industrial action is available on the RBTU website.
Source:
Media release, Nov 1
RBTU