Sydney Trains drivers could earn close to a whopping $200,000 as their union threatens industrial action on New Year’s Eve if their demands are not met.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) has refused to budge from their demands for a 32 per cent wage increase over four years for its members.
The union has threatened industrial action over the next fortnight and has refused to stop strikes on New Year’s Eve after failing to come to an agreement despite lengthy negotiations with the Minns government.
Along with service cancellations, workers are also refusing to unclog toilets or to wash off graffiti as part of their industrial action.
The wage increase would see the average total package of Sydney Trains drivers receive $198,764 in the fourth year of the deal, according to government documents seen by The Daily Telegraph.
The documents explained the projected wage figures would also include loadings, allowances and superannuation.
According to Transport for NSW, the average salary of a Sydney Trains driver is $128,196 including overtime and allowances.
However, the RTBU claims the base salary of a train driver sits at a measly $78,388 – almost $50,000 less than Transport for NSW’s estimate.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) has refused to budge from their demands for a 32 per cent wage increase over four years for its members
It comes as more than 580 services were cancelled over the weekend following the Federal Court’s decision to throw out an interim injunction blocking industrial action.
Union officials are also refusing to back down from industrial action on New Year’s Eve, which has resulted in Sydneysiders cancelling their city accomodation and other bookings.
The threat has outraged hospitality groups such as Merivale and Luna Park, with both companies filing a submission with the Fair Work Commission in a bid to stop the strikes.
‘Luna Park Sydney [is] extremely concerned with the timing of the industrial action brought on by the RTBU,’ Luna Park Sydney’s Chief Executive John Hughes said in a statement.
‘We remain hopeful that the situation will be resolved soon so people can go into Christmas with certainty about their arrangements for New Year’s Eve.’
‘We fully respect the rights of workers and unions to ensure fair standards but believe that the timing of this action and potential impact to Sydneysiders and visitors to the city to be shortsighted.’
Businesses and restaurants could face a major blow if the planned disruptions go ahead, as venues often rely on foot traffic during the festive season and one of Sydney’s biggest nights of the year.
Businesses could face a whopping loss of up to $78 million in revenue on New Year’s Eve if two-thirds of revellers to stay at home, Business NSW estimated.
Commuters have been warned to brace for cancellations and delays as industrial action continues across the network
Business NSW also estimated a loss of up to $59million if the New Year’s Eve crowd was half its normal size.
The Minns Government has also lodged an application to the Fair Work Commission -scheduled to go before the courts on Christmas Eve – in an attempt to lift the bans.
Trains will run slowly from Saturday as part of the industrial action, with drivers running services 23km/h slower than usual.
RTBU members have also refused to repair broken or clogged toilets at stations and on trains from New Year’s Eve.
Workers will not clean or remove graffiti and have also vowed to not handle any lost property.
Transport Minister Jo Haylen explained the proposed strikes against cleaning would mean some trains would not meet the minimum requirements to run.
‘If these industrial actions go ahead it means fewer trains on our tracks and more cancelled services and delays for passengers,’ Ms Haylen said.
Negotiations between the government and union collapsed last week, prompting NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb’s stern warning regarding the celebration.
Ms Webb made it clear she would recommend the famous New Year’s Eve fireworks display off the Sydney Harbour Bridge be cancelled if planned strikes went ahead.
‘If trains aren’t available, and people can’t leave the city, I have very large concerns of the risk that will create to the public because families won’t be able to get home and they’ll be trapped in the city with no way out,’ she said on Friday.
RTBU state secretary Toby Warnes responded later the same day and blamed the government for the entire situation.
‘If the fireworks are cancelled, that will be on the government completely,’ he said.
More than 250,000 people are expected to rely on public transport for New Year’s Eve celebrations, with some 3,200 services typically running about every five minutes to get people in and out of the city safely.
New Year’s Eve is the busiest day for the rail network as millions of people work their way around Sydney Harbour and the city for fireworks and other celebrations.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk