Sydney train commuters have been urged to delay non-essential travel as planned industrial action takes place.
On Thursday night, negotiations between the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) and NSW government over a $4,500 payment agreed in the last enterprise agreement collapsed, which initiated the strike.
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Trains are running up to 23kph slower than usual where the speed limit is over 80kph, causing extensive delays.
All lines have been affected, with Transport for NSW noting the south coast line has been most impacted.
An alert from the Transport of NSW no train services are running on the south coast line.
“There are four buses operating on the South Coast Line to help move passengers. Three of them are running between Wollongong and Kiama and one is running between Kiama and Bomaderry,” the alert on the Transport of NSW website read.
“Our teams are working hard to recover as much of the timetable as possible, however, due to a high level of staff absences, we are looking at ongoing, substantial, and worsening disruption.”
Speaking to media on Friday, RTBU NSW secretary Toby Warnes said the delays were “entirely attributable to the government issuing, last Friday, 5,000 individual lockout notices to train crew workers” across the state.
“Those lockout notices were intended to take effect on Wednesday … at midnight, those notices were postponed by the government in an effort to try and reach a deal on the Sydney NSW trains enterprise agreement.
“But last night, after negotiations fell over, the lockout notices took effect once again, at midnight last night… so we have workers who are either showing up today and risking not getting paid by the government, or we have workers who have chosen not to attend work today because of those lockout notices.”
The $4,500 payment in question was a one-off bonus payment for every rail worker.
A NSW government spokesperson said the RTBU suddenly pushed for the payment, however Mr Warnes said it was already negotiated in the previous enterprise agreement.
“That particular clause entitled our members to a one-off $4,500 payment that is payable at the beginning of each agreement. It’s a clause that we negotiated with the last government, with David Elliot when he was transport minister,” Mr Warne said on Friday.
“When you put something into the enterprise agreement, it becomes subject of future bargaining and can only be taken out as a bargaining claim.”
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