- Chris Minns criticized Sydney train strike
- The peace agreement collapsed on Sunday
The decision to give in to the demands of a rail union in the hope of a resolution has been called stupid by the same leader who made it.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union offered the New South Wales government a peace deal on Sunday, promising to suspend all protected industrial action if it made public transport travel free until a deal was reached.
The Labor government and the union have been at odds for months over a new enterprise deal.
A government application to the Fair Work Commission will be heard on Christmas Eve, when the industrial arbiter decides whether to call off the union’s strike.
In a memo leaked to the government, the union set out its offer in response to the request.
“Although their request appears to be based on a flawed understanding of organized action (and) economic evidence that consists entirely of assumptions,” the leaked union offer reads.
“However, we are writing to offer a solution that allows for minimal disruption on New Year’s Eve and over the festive period.”
The union offered to suspend all action until January 7 if the government would waive fees for Sydney commuters until an agreement was reached.
Premier Chris Minns said the deal would be rejected, despite agreeing to free fares for two weekends from June to appease unions and reach a deal.
Union NSW Secretary Toby Warnes said he had not heard from the government on Monday morning.
Premier Chris Minns said the deal would be rejected, despite agreeing to free fares for two weekends from June to appease unions and reach a deal.
“I stupidly agreed to this twice in the last six months in the hope that it would resolve the labor dispute, but nothing changed,” he told reporters on Monday.
“It is a question of trust, we do not trust the union to meet all its industrial demands.”
The Prime Minister said the Government and taxpayers cannot afford to have free fares indefinitely.
The union continues to demand a wage increase of eight percent annually for four years, which Minns says is unaffordable.
He said the government will not provide it while denying nurses a similar claim.
Previously, the government offered 11 per cent over three years, including pension increases.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union offered the New South Wales government a peace deal on Sunday, promising to suspend all protected industrial action if it made public transport travel free until a deal was reached.
On Friday, New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb threatened to cancel the world-famous New Year’s Eve fireworks event on Sydney Harbour, citing security reasons related to the planned industrial action.
“I have serious concerns,” he told reporters.
“I do not rule out recommending the government cancel the fireworks.”
Minns said canceling the fireworks wasn’t out of the question, but he had other tricks up his sleeve before it got to that point.
“We have options if we are not successful tomorrow, I don’t want to speculate on them… but you know, nothing is off the table,” he said.
Hundreds of trains were canceled over the weekend as a result of the union strike, although Warnes said track work also contributed to the delays.
“It is, of course, a convenient excuse for disruption caused by regular maintenance work,” he told ABC News on Monday.
“But we tell travelers that the government now has an offer on the table that would allow complete peace until January 7.”
Warnes wants travelers frustrated by the strike to suppress their anger to go to the 2027 elections.