Central Coast commuters were once more left in the lurch on Tuesday, August 23, as talks between the NSW Government and rail unions over safety issues and conditions continue to stall.
Despite the fact that Minister for Finance and Minister for Employee Relations, Damien Tudehope, says the Government continues to negotiate in good faith and has called on the unions to abandon industrial action, rail workers went on strike on the North Shore and Western Lines, which includes the Central Coast, between 10am and 4pm on August 23, in addition to an ongoing ban on trains that don’t “meet minimum safety standards”.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) NSW Secretary, Alex Claassens, said the Government can end the dispute by simply committing to “fulfil the basic requirement of government” and deliver safe trains for commuters and fair wages and conditions for workers.
“Refusing to operate trains that don’t meet minimum safety standards is the most basic industrial action you can possibly get, but what it is doing is laying bare just how poorly our current trains are maintained,” Claassens said.
He said trains that don’t meet ‘minimum safety standards’ – an official safety level within the railway – could include those with passenger safety intercom systems that don’t work, toilets that aren’t functioning, or even mechanical issues.
“This action is shining a public light on the issue,” he said.
“The travelling public would be horrified to know just how little the NSW Government cares about rail safety.”
Claassens said strike action on Tuesday and more planned for Thursday in the City Circle, had been designed to cause a headache for management, but still allow commuter services to run.
“Our fight is never with commuters – it’s with management and the government” he said.
“We’re doing this because we can’t allow commuters to get on unsafe trains, and that’s something we simply can’t back down on.”
Tudehope said the Government has already agreed to more than 70 claims put forward by the rail unions, which includes a generous increase in remuneration for employees and modifications to the New Intercity Fleet (NIF) as sought by the RTBU.
“It is disappointing that the RTBU continues to undertake disruptive strikes at a point when Government has met them on their key demands and is finalising drafting for a new enterprise agreement,” he said.
Terry Collins
