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Dec 30, 2023

Sydney rail workers leaving Opal card gates open as industrial action continues

Sydney commuters are set to enjoy weeks of free travel right across the rail

Sydney commuters are set to enjoy weeks of free travel right across the rail network starting from Saturday, as railway union members take further industrial action.

Rail staff will leave open the Opal Card ticket gates until September 6, however, Transport for NSW says passengers can still tap on and tap off their Opal Cards.

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The union has also banned issuing fines until September 6, meaning customers can access a station without tapping on and won't be hit with a fine.

However, Sydney Trains is still urging passengers to tap on and off using the Opal readers whilst travelling.

Chief executive of Sydney Trains, Matt Longlan, told the SMH tapping on and off will "ensure commuters are charged the correct fare and can access Opal benefits".

It comes as industrial action continued on Friday, with a ban on cleaners using vacuum cleaners or scrubbing machines on trains until Monday, when crews won't operate trains unless they meet maintenance centre minimum standards.

It comes after the NSW Rail, Tram and Bus Union failed to secure an outcome after multiple meetings in its long-running dispute with the government.

The first meeting, which took place last Thursday, between the union and transport management, focused on partial strikes set to take place in August.

"We’ve done everything we need to as a union to make sure that they can run a limited service during that time where we are out on strike," RTBU secretary Alex Claassens said on Thursday evening.

"They will be able to run trains, we expect them to run trains, and we’re going to have a meeting with them on Monday just to confirm that," he said.

The second meeting, with the government's Employee Relations Minister Damien Tudehope and Regional Transport Minister Sam Farraway, covered the union's sought changes to new intercity trains and an enterprise bargaining agreement.

Farraway on Thursday said the government has committed to share a deed with the union early next week.

"The deed remains contingent upon a new enterprise agreement being reached which will guarantee the end of further strikes," he said.

Claassens said he had already signed a deed designed with the union and transport department at the end of June, and expects the one presented to the union next week will be different.

"They’ve got lawyers in there that can't help themselves ... the lawyers are going to go away and do a hatchet job on our deed," he said.

He warned modifications could prolong disruption.

"Our industrial action for August will continue unabated, exactly as per our program, until I’ve got a document that we feel satisfied with," Claassens said.

The union will on August 31 ban operating foreign-made trains that make up most of the network.

- With AAP

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