Sydney train workers are set to go on strike this weekend.
Sydney trains won’t run from early Friday morning until Sunday morning as workers with the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) NSW go on strike.
It comes after a breakdown in pay negotiations between the union and the State Government. The parties have also failed to reach an agreement on plans to roll out a 24-hour train timetable.
According to Transport for NSW (TfNSW), inter-city services will see delays and cancellations from today, while there will be “a shutdown” across the whole network this weekend.
Here’s what you need to know.
Negotiations
In June, the State Government offered NSW train operators an 11% pay increase over a three-year period. RTBU NSW has asked for an 8% increase every year for four years.
NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the Government has made it “very clear” this “is not something that we are able to deliver”.
The union is also negotiating to improve working conditions and introduce a 24-hour train schedule.
24 hour schedule
RTBU NSW has been calling on the State Government to introduce 24-hour train schedules.
Union secretary Toby Warnes said: “This weekend would have been the perfect time to run 24-hour public transport”.
However, NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said that constantly having trains running would “eventually lead to the failure of our rail network.”
Sydney train strike
Train services will be shut down from early on Friday until Sunday morning.
Lines that service regional areas will also be limited on Wednesday and Thursday for passengers on the Newcastle, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands, and Illawarra lines.
TfNSW has advised passengers to use alternative travel methods or check transportnsw.info before taking public transport.
Impact
Initially, it was reported trains would stop running from Thursday.
On Wednesday, the union said the strike “would never have impacted services running on Thursday.”
RBTU NSW Secretary Toby Warnes said the Government “didn’t read the notice properly.”
However, the State Government said that after a second meeting, the union “agreed to run a regular train service on Thursday… for the Pearl Jam concert.”
Extra trains will take concertgoers to the first Pearl Jam show at Sydney Olympic Park on Thursday.
However, TfNSW Secretary Josh Murray said trains won’t be running when 30,000 people are expected at Olympic Park for the second concert on Saturday.
Murray said ticket data indicates many concertgoers will be travelling “from the Central Coast and from Newcastle.”
A million people use Sydney trains “each and every day,” Haylen said. She called for the union to “withdraw their industrial actions”. RBTU NSW said it won’t cancel the strike until it reaches an agreement.
Metro
Murray and Haylen have apologised for the disruptions.
Regular maintenance on part of the Metro line is also scheduled this weekend. While services will run between Tallawong and Chatswood, Chatswood to Sydenham will be closed.
Haylen said cancelling this “essential maintenance would be at significant cost to the taxpayer”.
Currently, transportnsw.info recommends passengers “use train services between Chatswood… and Sydenham” this weekend.
