Good news for Sydney-siders looking to brave the city this New Year’s Eve — the trains will be running after all! In a last-minute twist, rail unions have decided to ease up on their industrial action, cutting back on eight major bans that could have disrupted services on one of the busiest nights of the year.
For those who haven’t been following the saga, here’s as quick recap. The rail unions and the New South Wales government have been locked in a tug-of-war over pay and working conditions for months. Initially, the unions threatened to implement a staggering 200 work bans, which had everyone bracing for chaos. Just last weekend, we got a taste of what that might look like when distance limits for drivers and signalling bans led to over 680 train cancellations.
As New Year’s Eve approached, tensions escalated. The government was so concerned about potential disruptions that they took the matter to the Fair Work Commission, arguing that these bans would not only hit the economy hard but could also pose safety risks on a night when Sydney’s population practically doubles.
Just when it looked like we were headed for a showdown, the unions decided to pump the brakes. They emerged from discussions with the Fair Work Commission and announced they would withdraw eight major bans that would have affected services leading up New Year’s Eve and the night itself.
This decision means trains will be running as normal, allowing everyone to enjoy the celebrations without worrying about transport issues.
Toby Warnes, Rail Tram and Bus Union’s NSW branch secretary, explained the move to members on Monday night.
“While it’s frustrating to have to adjust our planned actions, our ability to pivot and respond strategically is crucial in the face of these dishonest and immoral manoeuvres,” he said per The Guardian.
So while they’re easing up for now and Sydneysiders can catch the fireworks without transport hiccups, the unions are still focused on their long-term goals.
The government is breathing a sigh of relief, and for good reason. New Year’s Eve isn’t just about fireworks and champers – it’s the busiest day of the year for our trains. We’re talking about 3,200 services running every five minutes, shuttling people across the state all night long. Without trains, getting a million people home after the fireworks would be like herding cats — drunk, glittery cats. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
While this immediate crisis has been averted, the underlying issues are still simmering. The unions are pushing for four annual wage increases of eight per cent, which has not been satisfied through negotiations.
The government’s latest offer was 11 per cent over three years, including superannuation increases.
So, while we can all breathe easy about our NYE plans, this saga is far from over. The Fair Work Commission can’t step in to settle the pay dispute until February, which means we might be in for a few more months of this back-and-forth.
Lead image: Getty Images
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