Sydney Commuters Granted Four-Month Relief from Rail Strikes Following Fair Work Ruling

• Feb 19, 2025

Sydney commuters will enjoy more than four months of relief from industrial action on the city’s train network after the Fair Work Commission (FWC) ordered a suspension of rail union work stoppages until 1 July.

On Wednesday evening, the FWC ruled against the New South Wales government’s request for a six-month suspension but opted for a temporary halt to industrial action to facilitate negotiations between unions and the government on a new pay agreement.

FWC President Adam Hatcher rejected the Minns government’s plea for an extension until September, which would have allowed the dispute to be resolved through arbitration. Hatcher criticized both the NSW government and the combined rail unions for engaging in “mutual public recrimination” over recent industrial action. He expressed hope that the four-month suspension would help reduce negative media coverage and encourage constructive negotiations. According to Hatcher, ongoing industrial action was unlikely to aid discussions and could instead deepen divisions, making the suspension a necessary step in the public interest.

State Transport Minister John Graham welcomed the decision, expressing gratitude to the FWC and calling it a step toward resolving the disruptions. “This provides a much-needed opportunity to halt the interruptions to people’s daily lives and focus on securing a fair agreement for rail workers,” he said on Wednesday night.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey reinforced the government’s commitment to expediting negotiations, stating, “We don’t want this dispute to drag on until July. The government is prepared to engage in good-faith bargaining to reach a resolution as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) state secretary Toby Warnes voiced disappointment over the government’s handling of the dispute. “It is incredibly disappointing that the NSW Government has allowed this situation to escalate to this point. This ruling sets a dangerous precedent that could embolden aggressive employers across industries,” Warnes said in a statement. He also raised concerns that the government might not be serious about finalizing an agreement, warning that it could continue to delay negotiations.

The industrial action, including work stoppages, has been carried out by multiple rail unions locked in discussions with the government for nine months since the last enterprise agreement expired in May 2024.

A breakthrough seemed imminent on 12 February, but talks collapsed when unions introduced a demand for a one-off $4,500 payment to all staff as part of the agreement.

The unions argued that this payment had been included in their previous enterprise agreement and should automatically carry over. However, the government contended that the payment had not been mentioned in any negotiations before mid-February and was originally intended only as compensation for back pay.

As negotiations continue, the four-month suspension period offers an opportunity for both sides to work toward a fair resolution without further disruptions to Sydney’s rail services.