Aussies Warned of Potential Catastrophe This Christmas Season
Commuters in Sydney face disruptions this Christmas as rail unions plan industrial action amid stalled negotiations with the government
Sydney, Australia, Rail Union, Industrial Action, Mark Speakman, Chris Minns
Sydney: So, it looks like Christmas in Sydney might be a bit of a mess this year. Mark Speakman, the NSW Opposition Leader, is sounding the alarm about a potential “catastrophe” for commuters. The rail union is gearing up for more industrial action, and it’s not looking good.
The Australian Rail, Train, and Bus Union (RTBU) is planning to notify Sydney Trains about this action starting December 28. They recently had a vote where a whopping 81% of their members said they were in favor of taking action. That’s a big deal!
Craig Turner, the RTBU president, called the vote “unbelievable” and a historic moment for the union. But what exactly will this action look like? That’s still up in the air. Speakman is worried about the chaos this could bring to businesses and commuters during the holiday season.
He’s pointing fingers at the government, saying they’ve created this mess with their weak handling of negotiations. The union is pushing for a 32% pay rise over four years and wants 24-hour rail services on weekends. So far, no deal has been struck.
Earlier this month, the Premier tried to stop the union from taking action with an injunction, but it seems that didn’t work out. Speakman is frustrated, saying the government has had plenty of time to sort this out but has dropped the ball.
Shadow Transport Minister Natalie Ward is also not holding back. She’s calling the negotiations a “Muppet show” and says the government is all over the place. People just want a reliable transport system, especially after a tough year.
Ward is worried that with the government’s lack of communication, commuters are going to be left in the lurch. She’s right; it’s a bit of a disaster waiting to happen.
Speakman believes if he were in charge, he would have had a solid plan to negotiate and possibly take the unions to the Fair Work Commission to prevent this action. The union hasn’t decided on the specifics yet, but they’re hoping for a call from the Premier to get things moving.
As it stands, the situation is tense, and commuters are left wondering what’s going to happen. The union is determined to keep pushing for a fair deal, and it looks like this story is far from over.