RTBU statement regarding Federal Court decision
8 December 2024
Attributable to Toby Warnes, Secretary of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) NSW:
It’s incredibly disappointing that the Federal Court has listened to the application by the NSW Government and granted interim orders.
The granting of interim relief means that all industrial action is temporarily cancelled by order of the court.
The actions of this NSW Government are appalling. To attack a group of essential workers in this way is petulant and disappointing to say the least.
Negotiations between the NSW Government and the unions were going incredibly well until the government decided to derail discussions entirely.
The government’s legal argument hinges on a technicality, which means that we now simply need to go through the protected action ballot process again before again having the right to take further protected industrial action.
We never wanted to have to take protected industrial action – we’d much rather the NSW Government negotiated fairly so we can reach an agreement.
Rail workers deserve fair wages and conditions for the work they do and we will continue to ensure they get that.