Central Coast rail commuters could experience disruptions over the next two weeks as workers ban overtime days across the network and talks with Sydney and NSW Trains stalling.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW (RTBU) said further industrial action has been forced with the rail networks refusing to agree to basic safety, hygiene and privatisation provisions as part of current enterprise agreement negotiations.
The industrial action would also see a Foreign Depot Working ban for drivers and guards, meaning they will only sign on at their home station, not elsewhere across the network and a ban on working with contractors to ensure that NSW and Sydney Trains cannot replace members’ overtime with contracted labour.
RBTU NSW Secretary, Alex Claassens, said workers were disappointed that they were being forced to take protected industrial action many months after their enterprise agreement expired.
“We have been negotiating for many months to secure a fair new enterprise agreement, but workers’ basic asks around hygiene and safety are being knocked back at every opportunity,” Claassens said.
“We’d hoped that after the industrial actions taken last year, the government and transport bureaucrats had finally agreed to listen and negotiate.
“But time and again they’ve refused to put basic safety provisions in place to ensure that commuters and workers are kept safe on our railways.
“Rather than prioritise safety and listen to the experts, transport bureaucrats and the NSW Government seem intent on politicising the issue and deflecting blame for their failings onto our hardworking rail workers.
“Once again workers have been left with no other way to make the government listen than taking industrial action.
“These protected actions were specifically chosen to have minimal impact on services.
“Rail workers are still doing overtime, just not a standalone day.
“Transport have known about these actions for weeks, so if they’ve done their jobs and rostered properly, this shouldn’t be causing a headache for anyone else.”
Sydney and NSW Trains employees have been negotiating a new enterprise agreement to replace the agreement that expired in May last year.
Among the key sticking points in the negotiations were: privatisation – workers want a commitment to services and jobs in the event of privatisation; safety claims – workers want a guarantee that any changes to services will leave them as safe or safer; and hygiene – workers want transport to maintain the existing level of hygiene with directly employed cleaners.
A spokesperson for Sydney Trains and TrainLink Intercity said the nature of industrial action meant they did not know the exact extent or timing of the disruption that would take place between February 6 and 21.
“Other rail unions also have various forms of industrial action ongoing during this time,” the spokesperson said.
“The industrial action is being taken by rail unions despite ongoing negotiations on a new Enterprise Agreement and more than 30 bargaining meetings to date, including six since the start of this year, with a number of concessions already reached which could be included in a final agreement.
“We are disappointed the unions are choosing to take continued action, knowing the impact it will have on our customers.
“Train services have already been impacted by COVID-related staffing shortages.
“We urge the unions to focus on bargaining at the negotiation table.”
With a reduced timetable still in place across the network, due to thousands of staff impacted by COVID-19, customers are urged to plan ahead.
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Terry Collins