Rail associations have been ordered to suspend the industrial action in their continuous dispute with the NSW government and Sydney trains on wages and conditions.
The Fair Work Commission pronounced its ruling on Wednesday evening after delays and cancellations have paralyzed the network in recent days.
From Friday to Sunday, 1,526 train drivers and guards were absent and did not report for their normal shift, which led to more than 4300 services being canceled or delayed.
The FWC has suspended industrial action until July 1, which will take effect from 10 p.m. on Wednesday.
It hopes that the 'cooling period' will enable the parties to concentrate on reaching a deal without the extra pressure of public recoil and media attention.
“Notwithstanding that the trade unions strongly oppose an order for the suspension of industrial action, we believe that such a suspension would be favorable for the negotiating representatives, because it would help to solve the issues in question,” said President Justice Adam Hatcher.
Months of Forens Chaos are over after the Fair Work Commission Industrial Action in the Sydney Trains Network has been suspended
NSW -Minister of Transport John Graham welcomed the ruling.
“This is clear air for these discussions, but the most important thing is that it is a clear run for commuters while they are about the city, and that is what is really important here,” he said.
At least 150 trains in Sydney and NSW Trainlink drivers and guards did not report for work on Wednesday.
More than 300 trains were canceled on Monday morning after nearly 200 train driver programs and guards from Sydney did not show up for their regular services.
It came after the NSW government had brought the RTBU to the Fair Work Commission after what it described as an 'unprecedented' number of employees who were called sick on Friday.
No less than 95.3 percent of all Friday services were delayed or canceled.
More come.
