A massive train strike across greater Sydney has been sensationally called off in the eleventh hour after the union and the NSW government met for crucial talks.
The NSW premier, key ministers, bureaucrats and representatives of five unions sat down on Thursday afternoon to discuss the three-day strike and were able to come to an agreement – much to the relief of millions of commuters.
The NSW government has agreed to run 24-hour trains this weekend with ‘intense bargaining’ for a long-term deal with the union to begin over the next two weeks.
‘I am pleased that we’ve been able to reach an agreement with the unions, meaning that Sydneysiders can get where they need to go on Friday and Saturday, over the weekend,’ Transport Minister Jo Haylen said.
‘My number one job is to keep our city moving, to make sure people can get where they need to go, and they have the information that they need to plan their lives.’
Mr Minns said he was grateful to the union for agreeing to the interim arrangements and acknowledged efforts on both sides of the table.
‘They’re tough negotiators… they know what they’re doing. It’s not an indictment on them but they fight hard on behalf of their members,’ he said.
However, he said it wasn’t possible to run 24-hour trains ‘every weekend, forever’.
The key players who can potentially avert a massive train strike across the greater Sydney area are meeting for crucial talks in a last-ditch effort to stop the shutdown (pictured Martin Place station in Sydney)
‘The main reason for that is that so much of the maintenance and repair of the transport system operates because people are incredibly hardworking and their job starts at two o’clock in the morning when the [trains] shut down,’ he said.
The stunning backflip comes after the not-for-profit advocacy group Business NSW says the Rail, Tram and Bus Union strike would have cost the state $50.7million.
Business NSW chief executive Daniel Hunter, Business Western Sydney director David Borger and Business Sydney director Paul Nicolaou co-signed a statement calling the protected industrial action ‘economic sabotage’.
‘The ripple effect of the irresponsible and damaging train strike action will cost jobs, hurt essential services and is a kick in the guts for hardworking businesses. White-collar workers have the advantage of being able to work remotely,’ they said.
‘However, many of the 415,000 people employed in the retail sector and 306,000 people employed in the hospitality sector won’t be able to perform their duties remotely.’
The Sydney Trains strike was due to go ahead from 4.15am on Friday until Sunday morning and would have impacted a host of concerts, matches and performances.
Ticketholders for Pearl Jam, all 12 A-League women and men’s games, the theatre juggernaut Hamilton, the Nepal Festival at Darling Harbour and a James Blunt concert would all have been affected.
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