Last-minute attempt blocks Sydney Trains strike: Premier’s negotiations fail  

After weeks of negotiations between the NSW government and the Rail, Tram, and Bus Union (RTBU), a deal has failed to formulate, possibly leading to more disruption for commuters.

A fortnight ago, commuters who use the Sydney Trains network were staring down the barrel of a four-day shutdown as negotiations around wages and working hours between the NSW government and the RTBU stalled – until Premier Chris Minns stepped in, putting a stop to the proposed industrial action.

Fast-forward two weeks, and it seems the negotiations are back where they started, with Minn’s failing to ‘say yes’ to the union’s demands, while simultaneously being knee-deep in similar negotiations with NSW nurses and other sectors.

Despite the negotiations failing, however, in a swift move, Transport for NSW took the RTBU and other stakeholders to court in an attempt to block industrial action hoping to avoid mass commuter disruption during the busy holiday period.

According to Nine News, a briskly organised hearing took place where the Federal Court agreed with Transport NSW and implemented an interim restraining order – blocking the union from industrial action and ordering them to alert their members that any plans to strike were unauthorised.

“I’m disappointed, and I’m very sorry about it, but unfortunately, that’s where we are,” said Minns on the negotiation status.

“At the end of the day, I can’t say yes to the rail unions whilst at the same time say no to the nurses union and other unions reaching reasonable settlements over the course of 2024.”

This course of action drew scathing criticism from the union, which labelled it as an “underhanded tactic” and “appalling”.

Toby Warnes, the secretary of the RTBU NSW, said: “To attack a group of essential workers in this way is petulant and disappointing, to say the least.”

Although the Federal Court made its decision on Sunday (8 December), daily commuters were still hit with some delays as the rostering could not be recognised on time. According to The Guardian, more than 70 per cent of services during the morning peak ran on time, with a few delays occurring here and there.

The relationship, however, between the two parties is on thin ice due to this blockade on industrial action formulated by the Minns government. To make matters worse, just two weeks ago, the NSW government were seemingly taking a victory lap after reaching a record four-year pay agreement with the NSW Police.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley described the agreement as a “historic breakthrough for police” that offers a generational change in terms of retention and recruitment for NSW Police.

This, of course, was salt in the wound for the other unions and sectors that Minns and the NSW government have failed to complete negotiations with. Nurses especially have been in discussion with the government right throughout 2024, with Minns arguing that his government simply needs more time.

“The suggestion that the government hasn’t moved, there’s been no genuine negotiations, there’s been no good faith offer is just not borne out by the facts,” Minns said.

“We are dealing with 10 years of neglect for public health in NSW, the Nurses Association would like us to turn that around in 12 months, we’re going to need a little bit longer.”

As frustrations grow throughout these various sectors, that much-needed time that Minns is requesting is simply running out.