Offer Sydney Train Commuters At Least A Week of Free Trips: Business Lobby Group

A commuter waits to board a train at Central railway station in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 15, 2025. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Sydney train commuters must be offered at least a week of free trips as a compensation for the recent railway workers strike that disrupted the network, a business lobby group said.

“It’s going to take a long time to restore trust with Sydney’s rail commuters and Business Sydney today calls for them to be offered at least a week’s free travel on the rail network to start rebuilding confidence and acknowledge the disruption commuters have endured,” said Paul Nicolaou, executive director of Business Sydney, on a LinkedIn post.

“The combined rail unions’ wages campaign has cost our wonderful city millions of dollars. The damage is both tangible and psychological.”

Nicolaou earlier said that the strike, which caused under 4,000 trains to be cancelled between Feb. 14 and 17, has been destroying the confidence for Sydney’s economy, which would take a long time to restore.

“This ongoing campaign is sapping confidence in our city with businesses for months hit hard by transport disruption deterring people from coming into the city for work, shopping and entertainment,” said Nicolau.

RTBU’s Demands ‘Excessive and Too Militant’

The NSW government proposed unions a 15 percent pay increase over four years but Sydney train workers are seeking a 32 percent hike over four years and a 35-hour working week.

The Rail, Tram, and Bus Union (RTBU) has been also demanding a $4,500 sign-on bonus for every rail worker.

“We think most people regard the present RTBU claims as excessive and too militant,” Jim Donovan, Secretary of the Action for Public Transport (NSW) Inc, told The Epoch Times.

“We think the proper resolution of the situation would be for the union to withdraw the claim for $4,500 and accept the generous offer. Train drivers already earn markedly more than police, nurses, and ambulance paramedics.”

Donovan pointed out that the same union prevented the new intercity Mariyung trains from running without guards, resulting in a fleet of trains sitting unused in a depot for four years.

“I understand the union had previously assented to driver-only operation during planning. We think most people regard the New Intercity Fleet claims as motivated by ideals other than safety which in any case is a matter for the official rail safety regulator.”

FWC Orders Strike Suspension Until July 1

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has ordered the suspension of the industrial action until July 1 so the government and unions can continue their negotiations on pay and conditions.

The NSW government was seeking the industrial action to be suspended until early September.

“While we are hopeful that the NSW government will see this result as reason to come back to the negotiating table, we are not confident,” said the RTBU in response to the FWC’s order.

“It must be said that this move by the NSW government sets a dangerous precedent. It has set an industrial agenda for aggressive employers, which should be a serious concern not just for rail workers, but for workers everywhere.”