A massive train strike across Greater Sydney has been sensationally called off in the eleventh hour after the union and the NSW government met for crucial talks.
The NSW premier, key ministers, bureaucrats and representatives from five unions met on Thursday afternoon to discuss the three-day strike and were able to reach an agreement – much to the relief of millions of commuters.
The NSW government has agreed to run 24-hour trains this weekend while “intense negotiations” continue on a long-term agreement with the union, due to start in the next two weeks.
“I’m pleased we have reached an agreement with the unions that will allow Sydneysiders to get where they need to go on Friday and Saturday this weekend,” Transport Minister Jo Haylen said.
“My main job is to keep our city moving, to make sure people can get where they need to go, and that they have the information they need to plan their lives.”
Mr Minns said he was grateful to the union for agreeing to the interim arrangements and acknowledged the efforts on both sides of the table.
‘They are tough negotiators… they know what they are doing. It is not an indictment against them, but they are fighting hard for their members,” he said.
However, he said it is not possible to run 24-hour trains “every weekend, forever.”
Key players who could potentially prevent a massive train strike in the Sydney area are meeting for crucial talks in a last-ditch effort to stop the closure (Photo Martin Place station in Sydney)
‘The main reason for that is that a lot of the maintenance and repair of the transport system happens because people work incredibly hard and their work starts at two in the morning when the [trains] shut down,” he said.
He said the state government simply “ran out of time” with negotiations.
“The pressure is on us to reach an agreement, I think the union feels the same way,” he said.
“It would have been great if a long-term deal had been negotiated in the last 48 hours. We were running out of time and neither side was willing to let commuters suffer as a result of that reality.”
The stunning backlash comes after non-profit organization Business NSW says the Rail, Tram and Bus Union strike would have cost the state $50.7 million.
Business NSW CEO Daniel Hunter, Business Western Sydney director David Borger and Business Sydney director Paul Nicolaou co-signed a statement calling the protected industrial action “economic sabotage”.
‘The ripple effect of the irresponsible and damaging train strike will cost jobs, damage essential services and is a kick in the guts for hard-working businesses. White-collar workers have the advantage of being able to work remotely,” they say.
“However, many of the 415,000 people who work in retail and 306,000 people who work in hospitality will not be able to carry out their duties remotely.”
The strike at Sydney Trains was expected to last from 4.15am on Friday until Sunday morning and would have affected a large number of concerts, matches and performances.
Ticket holders for Pearl Jam, all 12 women’s and men’s A-League matches, theater giant Hamilton, the Nepal Festival at Darling Harbor and a James Blunt concert are all said to be affected.