Strike Action Leads to Significant Disruptions in Sydney Train Services
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Synopsis
On January 15, major disruptions to Sydney's train services occurred due to worker strikes, resulting in numerous cancellations and delays. This action is part of an ongoing pay dispute between unions and the NSW government, with commuters advised to avoid travel.
Key Takeaways
- Hundreds of train services delayed or cancelled in Sydney.
- Workers from ETU and RTBU initiated strike action.
- 32% pay increase requested by RTBU for train staff.
- Government offered a 15% pay rise.
- Transport for NSW advises commuters to stay home.
Sydney, Jan 15 (NationPress) Hundreds of train services throughout Sydney, the capital of Australia's New South Wales (NSW), experienced significant delays or cancellations as workers engaged in strike action on Wednesday.
Commuters heading into the city were warned to anticipate substantial delays as work bans initiated by the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) came into effect.
According to Australia's 9News, by 8 AM local time, 200 train services had already been cancelled across the network, with many more experiencing delays.
Every line was affected by the disruptions, leading to wait times of nearly 50 minutes between trains at certain stations.
The work bans signify a heightened escalation in an ongoing pay dispute between the combined rail unions and the NSW state government.
The RTBU has requested a 32% pay increase over the next four years for Sydney Trains staff, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
During negotiations on Tuesday, the government proposed a 15% pay raise over four years, giving the union until Thursday to respond to the offer.
As part of the work bans, train drivers have reduced speeds by 23 km/h on sections of track that typically allow for speeds over 80 km/h.
“We always aim to implement measures that allow people to travel from A to B, while still making an impact to draw the government's attention,” RTBU Secretary Toby Warnes stated in an interview with Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.
Additionally, the ETU declined to perform essential maintenance tasks overnight.
Sydney Trains CEO Matt Longland indicated that the absence of maintenance work was a major contributor to the delays.
The government agency Transport for NSW announced that some buses were being arranged to substitute train services but advised commuters to limit travel and remain at home if possible.
It is anticipated that disruptions may worsen as the week progresses.
The unions had previously threatened significant industrial action in December, which included warnings about the cancellation of Sydney's renowned New Year's Eve fireworks event.
