While Sydney residents have long had enough of the seemingly endless rail strikes, the possible cancellation of the city’s New Year fireworks is the final straw.
Aussies have criticized the Rail Tram and Bus Union for putting one of the country’s biggest annual events at risk over “greedy” demands, following NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb’s warning on Friday.
Ms Webb made it clear she would recommend canceling the famous New Year’s Eve fireworks display at the Sydney Harbor Bridge if the planned strikes go ahead.
New Year’s Eve is the busiest day on Australia’s largest rail network as millions of people are ferried around Sydney Harbor and elsewhere in the city for the fireworks and other festivities.
About 3,200 services will run about every five minutes “to get people in and out safely,” Transport Minister Jo Haylen said.
Yet the more than 250,000 people expected to rely on public transit this year are facing chronic delays and cancellations as a result of union members’ plan to limit the distance drivers can travel per shift.
The chaos of the rule was already palpable this weekend, with more than 580 services canceled on Saturday alone.
Now the Aussies are looking for someone to blame for the possible cancellation of the fireworks. Some are pointing the finger at the union for its tough demands, while others are blaming Chris Minns’ government for the breakdown in negotiations.
Sydney’s famous New Year’s Eve fireworks could be canceled amid concerns the Rail Tram and Bus Union’s planned action will spell disaster for large crowds
‘If the fireworks in Sydney are canceled this New Year’s Eve, Minns must resign on January 1, 2025! This is because of Minns’ incompetence, failure and total lack of ability to deal with the union hacks!’ someone wrote on X.
‘Wow. “If the greedy NSW transport union finally cancels the fireworks in Sydney because their overpaid people want a pay rise from an already overtaxed public, there will be calls to disband them completely,” said another.
‘Australia’s biggest showcase to the world is the NYE fireworks in Sydney every year. If that is canceled due to a payment dispute at NSW Rail the reputation is a disaster and future tourists won’t bother coming,” wrote another.
Some of the union’s demands include four annual pay increases of eight percent, more super, same-day overtime pay, an increase in annual leave to 5 weeks (non-shift work) and 6 weeks (shift work), and unlimited sick leave. .
Negotiations between the government and the union collapsed on Thursday, prompting a swift warning from Ms Webb about the celebration.
‘If trains are not available and people cannot leave the city, I am very concerned about the risk posed to the public as families cannot get home and become stuck in the city. with no way out,” she said on Friday.
RTBU State Secretary Toby Warnes responded later the same day, blaming the government for the entire situation.
“If the fireworks are cancelled, it is entirely the government’s responsibility,” he said.
Australians condemned the union and state government for endangering the fireworks
The state government plans to argue at a Fair Work Commission hearing on Christmas Eve that the industrial action could pose a risk to public safety on New Year’s Eve.
However, the Train Union claims the move would only cause delays to trains and force a number of cancellations.
Transport Minister Jo Haylen expressed disdain for the union’s view that work bans were a means to get the government back to the negotiating table.
“They say, ‘Let’s talk about it,'” she told reporters.
“But the fact is, there is no end point unless you agree with them.”
Unions continue to demand four annual pay rises of eight per cent, which Mr Minns says is unaffordable and could not happen while denying nurses a similar claim.
The government previously offered 11 percent over three years, including increases in pension benefits.
Railroad workers were willing to settle for a middle ground, Warnes said.
“If the government wants to come to the table with an offer, they should make that offer and then we will take it to our members,” he said.
“If our members accept it, the dispute will be resolved.”
Outside of that, from February the Fair Work Commission can be asked to settle the dispute.