Central Coast commuters can rest easy with the NSW Government and unions finally agreeing to a new enterprise agreement for rail workers following a year of intense negotiations and extensive industrial action.
The Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink Enterprise Agreement (EA) will now be lodged with the Fair Work Commission for approval.
Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott said it was a “significant and successful” outcome for rail employees and commuters and represented “an extremely generous and fair deal for employees”.
“There are more than 3,000 services which enable more than 800,000 commuter trips across the NSW rail network each weekday and Opal data has shown that significant numbers of commuters are returning to public transport,” he said.
“The travelling public can now be more confident in the level of service provided on the train network.”
More than 10,100 employees voted in a ballot on the new agreement, with more than 9400 (93 per cent) casting a Yes vote.
Minister for Employee Relations Damien Tudehope said the successful vote would see an end to industrial action on the rail network.
“This outcome formalises the agreement reached with the rail unions last year and will mean no further industrial action over the life of the EA,” he said.
“This is a welcome result for the public of NSW who own the rail network and rely on it every day to go about their lives.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the Government could now get on with the job of delivering the New Intercity Fleet.
Combined, there are approximately 12,500 employees who will benefit from a wide range of significantly improved conditions including: the management of physical and mental health in the work place; increases to or greater access to parental leave, bereavement leave, and carers leave entitlements; the provision of a greater focus on preventing sexual harassment and greater support for employees experiencing family and domestic violence; improvements to the living away from home allowance; and a new electrical safety allowance.
Sydney Trains Chief Executive Matt Longland said the changes to the EA were made based on feedback received during the bargaining process from staff members, independent bargaining representatives and union delegates.
The approved Enterprise Agreement will nominally expire in May 2024.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union Secretary, Alex Claassens, said the new EA is a significant win for workers and commuters.
“All we ever wanted was to secure safe trains for commuters and fair wages and conditions for rail workers,” he said.
“This means we’re another huge step towards achieving that.
“Rail workers have overwhelming voted in favour of the enterprise agreement that they had to fight so long and hard for, it’s a great outcome for everyone.”
Claassens said the final pay increase still needs to be decided in the Fair Work Commission, with hearings set for February 8-9.
“The NSW Government is continuing to actively argue in the Fair Work Commission against any further pay increase above the government’s wages cap of 2.5 percent, even despite the current high inflation figures,” he said.
“The government’s argument would have rail workers wages going backwards in real terms.
“It’s an outcome essential workers will not accept, and we think the travelling public would agree with us.
“We’re looking forward to the enterprise agreement finally being completed, and we’re looking forward to seeing the crucial safety changes finally being made to the New Intercity Fleet.
“It was a hard slog to get here, but workers have stood together in solidarity and showed that rail safety is too important to ignore.”
Terry Collins