Thousands of rail workers will immediately restart industrial action on Sydney’s rail network, causing major disruption to train services from today after the federal court dismissed the state government’s case for work bans to be blocked.
In a major blow to the state Labor government, the federal court decision on Thursday effectively brings forward industrial action planned by the Rail Tram and Bus Union and five other unions on December 28, just days before New Year’s Eve celebrations.
It also raises the likelihood that disruptions to rail services on New Year’s Eve, which is the busiest day of the year for the public transport system, will be worse than previously anticipated. More than a million people are expected to descend on the harbour front to watch fireworks.
Commuters face renewed major disruption.Credit: Wolter Peeters
RTBU state secretary Toby Warnes said the government’s case had always been based on “very weak legal grounds”, and the union had been confident that it would score a legal victory.
“As a result, industrial action will recommence immediately. We’re going back to our office right now to inform all our members to enforce the bans that were on immediately before the injunction was granted two Sundays ago,” he said.
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The government had temporarily blocked rail unions from taking industrial action after the federal court granted an interim injunction on December 8.
Warnes said the resumption of a range of work bans would have a “significant impact” on train services across the network.
“Sydney Trains had two weeks to prepare for this eventuality. Our understanding is that they haven’t. So there may be significant impacts on the network from now until at least the end of the day when Sydney Trains is able to recover,” he said.
Transport Minister Jo Haylen warned earlier this week that the government would pursue “all legal options” to ensure passengers and businesses were protected from disruption to the rail network due to industrial action on New Year’s Eve.
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