Transport Union May Drop Costly Action in Exchange for 50 Cent Public Transport Fares

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union has pressured the NSW government to switch to cheaper fares as industrial action threatens taxpayer coffers.

A CityRail commuter train leaves Circular Quay railway station in Sydney, Australia on Feb. 2, 2010. Greg Wood/AFP via Getty Images

The Rail, Tram, and Bus Union (RTBU) industrial action could cost New South Wales (NSW) taxpayers $100 million a month as the union says it'll consider backing down if the government concedes to lowering public transport tickets to 50 cents.

It comes after neighbouring Queensland’s Labor Premier Steven Miles announced earlier this year that public transport tickets would be reduced to 50 cents. The six-month trial came into effect on Aug. 5.

Miles said the move would reduce cost-of-living pressures of Queenslanders. The idea is now gaining traction in other states, including NSW.

Moving to 50-cent fares in NSW would assist commuters and the government, the union says, adding that it would be willing to back away from industrial action if they were introduced.

The announcement comes on Sept. 19 after emergency talks between the RTBU and the state government over pay rates and other issues failed to negotiate an outcome during the week.

The union wants a 32 percent pay rise over four years for workers, a 35-hour work week, and a number of safety improvements.

The industrial action coincides with several upcoming big sporting events in Sydney including the NRL and AFL grand finals and the rugby union Bledisloe Cup, with the government scrambling to provide alternative means of transport.

Passengers wait for the arrival of a Sydney Metro train at Chatswood Metro station for the first day of public travel, Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 19, 2024. AAP Image/Jeremy Piper

In a statement, the RTBU accused the NSW government of “continued attacks” on transport services and a failure to negotiate fairly on enterprise agreements.

“The NSW government has not engaged with stakeholders, including the union, over safety concerns about the conversion of the existing heavy rail corridor to an exposed Metro line without appropriate safeguards for commuters,” RTBU NSW Secretary Toby Warnes said.

The union has also threatened to close down the 150-year-old T3 train line from Liverpool to the city if the government continues with plans to convert part of the route to a driverless, metro standard.

In order to carry out the works, the Sydenham to Bankstown section of the route would need to be closed from the end of the month.

The union has deemed the conversion unsafe, saying the track being at ground level puts people at risk if the line uses driverless trains.

If union bans delay construction, it could cost the state $100 million monthly, NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said, adding that an agreement could be met before the weekend.

“My door is always open because we want to make sure families can get to the footy this weekend,” she said.