Sydney Train Strike Averted Following Last-Minute Deal Between NSW Government and Union
A two-week negotiation period has been agreed upon to address pay and conditions, preventing a weekend rail shutdown that threatened major disruptions.
- The NSW government and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) reached an agreement to prevent a planned two-day train strike in Sydney, ensuring weekend train services will operate as normal.
- The government agreed to run as many 24-hour train services as possible this weekend in exchange for the union lifting 109 planned work bans for the next two weeks.
- Negotiations over pay and working conditions will continue during the two-week period, with the union pushing for an 8% annual pay rise and the government offering 9.5% over three years.
- The strike, if it had proceeded, was expected to cause significant economic damage, disrupt major events, and impact over a million daily train commuters in Sydney and surrounding regions.
- Both parties aim to reach a long-term resolution by Christmas, though the Premier cautioned there is no guarantee the threat of future industrial action is fully resolved.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation 
The Sydney Morning Herald 
The Guardian 
9News 
SBS News 