Friday 29th of March 2024

dilemma rail - all train but no tracks .....

dilemma rail - all train but no tracks .....

New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma has accused the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) of trying to blackmail the State Government by calling a strike during World Youth Day (WYD). 

The rail union says it is planning to stop work for 24 hours on Thursday next week, when Pope Benedict has several events planned in the CBD. 

Mr Iemma says there is no justification for the action. 

'I want the RTBU to understand this message and a very simple one,' he said. 

Iemma Furious Over WYD Rail Strike 'Blackmail'

The little train that could...

Rail union backs down on Pope strike

New South Wales's Rail, Tram and Bus Union has called off a rail strike which threatened to throw next week's World Youth Day event into chaos.

The decision to cancel the strike came after a three-hour meeting with the state Transport Minister, John Watkins.

Rail workers were planning to strike over the Government's 2.5 per cent capped pay rise offer on Pope Benedict's busiest day during the World Youth Day event.

Up to 750,000 Sydneysiders and Catholic pilgrims could have been stranded during the Pope's official welcome to Sydney.

John Robertson from Unions NSW says during the meeting the Government agreed to drop its proposal to slash around 400 jobs, in exchange for a pay increase for rail workers.