Rail chaos hits Sydney over Christmas with bitter standoff between the government and union bosses reaching boiling point amid strike action threats
Millions of commuters have been warned to brace for more travel chaos across Sydney’s rail network just days out from Christmas.
Trains across the harbour city could come to an abrupt halt for 24-hours from Thursday night after the Federal Court gave the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) the green light to commence industrial action.
The move could cause travel chaos for commuters heading to work this Friday on the final working day of the year for many Sydneysiders.
Revellers heading into the CBD over the busy Christmas holiday period and on New Years Eve have also been warned that fewer train services may run.
Transport for NSW issued an urgent alert on Thursday afternoon warning commuters of disruptions across the network due to ‘ongoing industrial action’.
‘Expect delays and cancellations on Sydney Trains, Intercity and NSW TrainLink services due to ongoing protected industrial action,’ the alert read
‘Allow extra travel time and consider using alternative transport.’
The disruptions impact all Sydney Trains, intercity and NSW TrainLink routes.
Trains across the harbour city could come to a halt for 24 hours from Thursday night after the RTBU was given the green light to commence industrial action. Pictured commuters during peak hour at Central Station
Commuters have been urged to check transport websites and apps to monitor updates to disruptions to services.
RTBU NSW Branch Secretary Toby Warnes said workers are entitled to engage in the strikes until their demands are met.
‘Members will do whatever it takes to achieve what they deserve and that will continue indefinitely over this weekend and then the reduction in kilometre ban coming from Monday,’ Mr Warnes said.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Transport for NSW and the RTBU for further comment.
The industrial action could initiate network shutdowns unless trains run 24 hours across Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Businesses and restaurants will be dealt a major blow if the planned disruptions go ahead with venues reliant on foot traffic during the busy festive season.
It comes as tensions continue to boil over between the state government and the union amidst an escalating dispute over wages, which has been running since April.
The Federal Court ruling dealt a massive blow to NSW Premier Chris Minns after the government’s technical argument trying to invalidate the industrial action were dismissed.
The union has warned on potential travel chaos or New Year’s eve revellers (pictured)
The planned disruptions could affect travel plans for thousands of commuters to watch the annual fireworks display at Sydney Harbour (pictured)
It comes just days after the RTBU and several rail unions voted to go on strike from December 28, paving the way for around 8,000 workers to stage industrial action.
The union had previously planned to reduce the number of kilometres their members would travel to and from work.
Some of the other plans considered included 24-hour work bans as well as the speed trains will travel across the network.
Transport Minister Jo Haylen could not say what that response would be or to what extent NSW’s urban rail network would be disrupted.
‘I expect that we will have a level of service available for passengers,’ she said.
Commuters (pictured centre) have been urged to check transport websites and apps to monitor updates to disruptions to the network
The union had previously planned to reduce the number of kilometres their members would travel to and from work (pictured commuters at Town Hall Station in Sydney)
Sydney Trains Chief Executive Matt Longland said during a press conference on Thursday afternoon the RTBU could issue any of the 200 work bans it has in place.
‘We haven’t yet been advised of the detail around which bans will be reapplied, from which time should they all be reapplied,’ Mr Longland said.
So, this will be a very significant impact for the travelling public. In the coming days and weeks, we’ll be doing everything we can to minimise that impact …,’
Mr Longland said more operational staff would be at the Sydney Trains Rail Operations Centre in the event of the work bans being initiated.
Mr Longland said the RTBU is in a position to implement as many as 200 work bans, which will affect the way commuters (pictured) will travel across the public transport network
The Federal Court delivered the state government a brief reprieve from the industrial after it earlier pressed pause on planned work bans and strikes before they began on December 9.
Mr Minns managed to avert a major rail and tram crisis after the RTBU threatened to stage a three day shutdown, which was scheduled to begin on November 22.
The move would have resulted in one of the biggest rail strike shutdowns across Sydney.
The dispute between rail workers and the government is in relation to the continued demand for four annual wage increases of eight per cent.
Mr Minns managed to avert a major rail and tram crisis after the RTBU threatened to stage a three-day shutdown, which was scheduled to begin on November 22 (pictured commuters at a light rail platform in Sydney)
Mr Minns has said the demand is unaffordable and could not occur while he is denying nurses a similarly costly claim.
The government previously offered 11 per cent across three years, including superannuation increases.
Ms Haylen said the government could argue before the Fair Work Commission that the disruptions will create commuter safety concerns and economic harm.
The Commission can suspend industrial actions under the Fair Work Act if the strikes are found to cause ‘significant damage to the Australian economy’ or risk pubic safety.
