Sydney commuters preparing for a WFH week due to train delays might need to rethink their plans because rail unions have officially postponed their industrial action.
Commuters were warned there could be disruptions over the next two weeks starting February 12 as the Rail, Tram, and Bus Union (RTBU) planned to slow trains to 23km/h below the speed limit in zones of 80km/h or higher.
The unions were reportedly planning the action after the NSW Government refused to budge on demands to refund passengers for travel for the previous travel chaos between January 13 and January 17. The union claims it was “unfairly blamed for the meltdown across the network”.
The “go-slow” action was supposed to kick off on Wednesday. However, late on Tuesday afternoon, new NSW Transport Minister John Graham announced that the plan has been pushed back by 48 hours, per ABC News.
“This agreement was reached as part of ongoing discussions,” he said in a statement.
While the “go-slow” has been delayed for now, RTBU NSW branch secretary Toby Warnes made it clear this isn’t a full retreat.
“If these next two days do not lead to an agreement in principle, the ‘go-slow’ will recommence,” he cautioned.
The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) is still expected to go ahead with its action today, staging rolling one-hour work stoppages between 8am and 4pm on Wednesday. However this isn’t expected to directly affect commuter services.
As reported by news.com.au, ETU Secretary Allen Hicks described the action as a clear sign of frustration from workers.
“Without the pressure of industrial action, the NSW government and Sydney Trains have shown they won’t sit down and meaningfully bargain with us,” Hicks said.
And while passengers might be in for a temporary reprieve, a Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink spokesperson encouraged commuters to check travel apps and allow extra time for their journeys.
“The consequences of industrial action can be unpredictable, as are the operational needs of the network,” they pointed out.
Industrial action last month had seen significant disruptions across the network, with some 400 services cancelled and just 16 per cent of services having run on time or at all on day one of the action, per The Guardian.
Some delays on the T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra hit nearly five hours and over a quarter of morning peak services were cancelled.
For now, it looks like we’ll have to wait and watch what happens as negotiations continue.
Lead image: Roni Bintang and Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
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