"Even with Legal Wins, Sydney Braces for Ongoing Train Delays: What Passengers Need to Know"

The Federal Court has issued an injunction halting the planned industrial action by NSW rail unions set for Monday. Unions NSW announced that members will be informed of the suspension, anticipating renewed discussions with the government.

P24 News Media

December 08, 2024

1 minute

"Even with Legal Wins, Sydney Braces for Ongoing Train Delays: What Passengers Need to Know"

India

The government of New South Wales recently secured a crucial victory in the Federal Court, successfully obtaining an injunction that prevents the state’s rail unions from resuming any planned industrial action. This decision, rendered during a late-night hearing, comes after the government and the unions were unable to reach a pay agreement despite two weeks of intensive discussions.

Nonetheless, the transport authorities have cautioned that rail commuters should still anticipate disruptions on Monday, as there are delays and cancellations that are already confirmed across the rail network. This means that while immediate industrial action has been halted, the effects of prior negotiations and the ongoing disputes will likely impact services.

A spokesperson for the Premier released a statement following the court’s decision, noting, "Tonight, the Federal Court has granted an injunction against the combined rail unions." The spokesperson clarified that this injunction will prevent any industrial action until a further court hearing can be scheduled, which will happen at a later date. Despite this positive outcome, the spokesperson acknowledged that disruptions on Monday could not be entirely avoided due to the timing of events leading up to the court's ruling. They added that the government is relieved to provide commuters with some certainty, especially as the holiday season approaches, while expressing commitment to continue efforts towards a mutual agreement.

In a proactive move last month, NSW Premier Chris Minns intervened directly in the rail negotiations to avert a widespread train strike that could have severely affected the city’s transport system. However, Mark Morey, the head of Unions NSW, expressed disappointment that after what he described as "exhaustive daily negotiations and the government's best efforts," a resolution was still not achieved by the weekend.

Morey lamented the unexpected halt in negotiations, indicating that the unions believed they were close to finalizing a deal. "We’ve had two weeks of intensive bargaining; we were keen to try to resolve this and then suddenly talks stopped," he explained while highlighting his dissatisfaction with the sudden developments over the weekend that culminated in the request for the injunction.

He described the situation as disappointing and noted that the unions had been optimistic about reaching a favorable outcome following discussions with the Premier just days prior to the court action. "The premier spoke to the unions on Friday and we were all of the belief we were going to get an outcome," he said, emphasizing the surprise at the injunction lodged later on Sunday.

Moving forward, Morey indicated that the rail unions will inform their members about the suspension of the planned industrial action and will explore their legal options. He expressed hope that the government would return to the negotiating table to resolve the situation swiftly. "Nobody wants industrial action continuing into next year," he stated clearly, underlining the desire for a prompt resolution.

On the opposition front, leader Mark Speakman criticized the Premier for being overly influenced by union leaders and for delaying action until the last moment to seek court intervention to avoid "this industrial chaos." He accused the Premier of allowing the situation to deteriorate over time, which he asserted should never have occurred in the first place. Speakman’s remarks reflect a growing concern regarding the state's handling of the rail negotiations and the resultant impact on commuters.