The Rail, Tram, and Bus Union (RTBU) has slammed threats to cancel Sydney's New Year’s Eve fireworks as an "outrageous" scare tactic, after NSW Premier Chris Minns again floated the idea if planned strike action isn’t called off.
The Fair Work Commission is currently reviewing whether the industrial action can proceed, with a decision expected tomorrow.
Premier Minns has called the union’s demand for an 8% pay rise annually over four years unsustainable, arguing it would lead to a sharp rise in public transport fares.
"It would mean fares going up by 17% every year," he said.
In response, the RTBU has offered to postpone major strike action until January 7, but only if the government meets two conditions:
Withdraw its current submissions to the Fair Work Commission.
Approve free public transport across New South Wales until a new enterprise agreement is finalized.
Both Minns and Transport Minister Jo Haylen dismissed the offer, calling the free fares condition a “stunt.”
Minns said he had previously agreed to fare-free periods twice during negotiations with the union but that it hadn’t helped resolve the dispute."I'm not going to make the same mistake three times," he stated.
If the government’s attempt to block the industrial action fails, Minns hinted that drastic measures, like canceling the iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks, were on the table."That's not a recommendation I want to make," he said.
RTBU secretary Toby Warnes pushed back strongly, asserting there was no chance the fireworks would be canceled and calling the premier’s comments a fearmongering tactic."There will be trains, buses, and ferries on New Year’s Eve," he said. "We’ve always been committed to minimizing disruption during the festive season."
Warnes added that the union was open to resolving the issue and clarified that workers could not strike if an enterprise agreement was reached."If the premier agrees to an enterprise agreement today, there will be no industrial action," he said.
However, a state government spokesperson maintained that meeting the union’s demands, including free fares, was financially unfeasible.“Scrapping fares would cost $127 million a month. The people of NSW would end up paying for it in another way,” the spokesperson said.
With a decision from the Fair Work Commission looming, tensions remain high, but both sides appear committed to finding a solution that avoids widespread disruptions during the holidays.
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