Prime Minister Takes Charge of Emergency Discussions to Prevent Train Shutdown
New South Wales (NSW) Premier Chris Minns’ deal-making abilities will be put to the test as he leads crisis talks with rail unions threatening to cause commuter chaos for three days.
Trains from Newcastle to Wollongong and across Sydney are set to be non-operational from Friday morning until Sunday night due to an escalating pay dispute between the state government and rail workers.
The premier, along with his transport minister Jo Haylen, is scheduled to meet on Thursday afternoon with six unions and peak body Unions NSW.
This is the third consecutive day the premier has personally taken part in efforts to resolve the prolonged deadlock resulting in escalating work stoppages.
“All options are on the table,” Minns stated during Question Time on Thursday. “Our goal is to minimize disruption for the people of NSW.”
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“If there’s a possibility of reaching an agreement this weekend, we are willing to explore that,” Minns added.
The opposition criticized the government for holding consecutive meetings rather than resolving the issue in one single session.
“I fail to see why you didn’t stay there all day yesterday until reaching a resolution, until getting this matter resolved,” opposition transport spokeswoman Natalie Ward told Sydney radio 2GB.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union state secretary Toby Warnes previously mentioned that the government chose to halt train services instead of meeting the union’s request for 24-hour rail operations to prevent industrial action.
“We have provided them with solutions on how to run trains this weekend… yet again, they have decided not to do so,” he stated.
While services were conducted around the clock the previous weekend to prevent work stoppages, transport officials claim that ongoing maintenance issues make this unsustainable in the long run.
An offer to operate a vital line—Strathfield to Hornsby via Central—round the clock has not been accepted by the unions.
This action occurs amidst the union’s demand for 8 percent annual pay increases.
The government maintains that anything above 11 percent over three years is financially unfeasible.
The train network accommodates more than one million individuals on a typical day.
Transport for NSW is working on providing emergency transportation alternatives if rail services are disrupted.
Rideshare services will restrain surge pricing but fares may be elevated in certain areas such as entertainment districts in order to attract more drivers.
Light rail services on Saturday will adhere to a Friday timetable with increased frequency.
While the Sydney Metro will offer more frequent services on Friday, it will mostly close for maintenance during the weekend.
A “major event bus plan” is being devised to facilitate transportation to Sydney Olympic Park, where a Pearl Jam concert is scheduled for Saturday.
The details of this plan will be finalized before the event, but it may not be able to cater to all usual routes or capacities.
