source : the age
Rail unions’ counter-offer to the Minns government in a bitter dispute over a new wage agreement is for a pay rise of 11 per cent over three years, less than half of what they were seeking when negotiations kicked off eight months ago.
The counter-offer, which has been seen by the Herald, was handed to senior bureaucrats on Monday, two days before the government’s case for industrial actions to be terminated or suspended on economic harm and safety grounds is heard by the Fair Work Commission.
Sydney’s rail network was thrown into chaos last Wednesday and Thursday due to work bans, resulting in thousands of delays and cancellations.
Thousands of train services were cancelled or delayed last Wednesday and Thursday due to industrial action. Credit: Wolter Peeters
In their counter-offer, rail unions are seeking a 4 per cent pay increase in the first year and 3.5 per cent in each of the following two years. It contrasts with the unions’ opening gambit last year for a 32 per cent pay rise over four years.
It also includes a package of over 100 conditions, which range from harmonisation of allowances for electrical and maintenance workers to improved redundancy provisions.
Last week, the government revealed that it was offering rail workers a 4 per cent pay rise in the first year, followed by 3.5 per cent in both the second and third year and 3 per cent in the fourth.
The government offer of a 14 per cent pay rise over four years included a 1 per cent increase from savings from the merger of Sydney Trains and NSW Trains.
While the two sides are now effectively aligned on the quantum of pay rises, a sticking point in the latest talks is the state’s request to remove a risk assessment clause inserted in the previous enterprise agreement two years ago by the previous Coalition government following a dispute over the new intercity train fleet.
The clause requires transport authorities to consult unions on risk assessments for new train fleets or major changes to rail infrastructure.
Senior transport authorities and union leaders are meeting again on Tuesday at Fair Work in Sydney, where they will try to hammer out a deal.
Walking into the hearing, Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) state secretary Toby Warnes said he was disappointed the counter-offer had been leaked but remained hopeful a deal could be reached.
Rail Tram and Bus Union state secretary Toby Warnes.Credit: Louie Douvis
“We’re getting quite close. We hope [the leak of the counter-offer] doesn’t scuttle today’s proceedings,” he said.
“The sticking point is going to be the clauses that they’re asking us to remove from the enterprise agreement. We told them yesterday that they’re die-in-a-ditch stuff for us. We’re hoping they come back with another proposal today.”
Warnes said the talks could continue into Wednesday, and there was a potential that the hearing of the government’s case to terminate industrial action was delayed to allow further conciliation.
“We’d be hopeful that we could come to an agreement before the hearing starts tomorrow,” he said.
Before entering the second day of talks, Transport for NSW secretary Josh Murray said the discussions were “very positive” on Monday, and he would be clarifying a number of points about the government’s existing offer and responding to questions.
“It was a good tone in the room [on Monday]. Everyone brought their best approach to try to work out the elements that keep us apart,” he said. “This is about detail, and it is about ensuring that both sides understand where each other is on some critical points.”
Emerging from the meeting after about an hour, Murray declined to comment on what was discussed or the unions’ counter-offer. “The unions are continuing to meet, and we’ll come back later today,” he said.
About 60 per cent of Sydney Trains and NSW Trains’ 13,300 workers are RTBU members. The Electrical Trades Union, which is one of the six involved in the dispute, represents about 940 workers at the state-owned rail operators.
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