Sydney train strike: RTBU win weekend court battle over Minns government as commuters prepare for more chaos
Australia’s biggest city is set for another week of commuter chaos after the Rail, Train and Bus Union won a weekend court battle with the Minns Government over industrial action in Sydney.
The Sydney rail network will be again subjected to ‘go-slow’ work practices on Monday after the Fair Work Commission ruled that rail staff calling in sick and skipping shifts was not unlawful.
Last week, rail services ground to halt leaving thousands of commuters stranded and looking for alternative arrangements to move around the city.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The Minns government sought to have an injunction placed on similar behaviour leading into the Monday peak hour, but to no avail.
Union bosses declared victory on Sunday morning after the commission the Fair Work Commission’s deputy commissioner Thomas Roberts found there was no evidence that the sick leave absences were a form of co-ordinated industrial action.
“There was no evidence that there was any communication amongst the employees themselves to co-ordinate such action on an ongoing basis,” he said.
“Uncertainty in the workforce as to how they might be affected and whether or not it was in their interest to attend that day,” was a factor he added and said there was evidence workers thought that even if they showed up for work they would still have their pay docked.
On Friday more than 450 services were delayed or cancelled by Sunday afternoon despite the quieter weekend timetable after about 360 staff called in sick or absent from shifts.
