December 20th 2024.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union is standing firm in their belief that there will be no safety concerns on New Year's Eve. This comes after NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb issued a threat to cancel the city's famous fireworks display due to ongoing rail action. Webb expressed her concerns for the safety of the 250,000 people expected to attend the event in the CBD, particularly if they are unable to get home safely.
In a statement to reporters, Webb explained, "When it's time to go home after the fireworks, our job is to get everyone out safely and quickly. But if there is no transportation available, we cannot guarantee their safety. This is a serious issue and I have grave concerns for the public's well-being. Families may be trapped in the city with no way out."
Webb even went as far as to say that she would recommend cancelling the fireworks if the trains are not running and people are unable to leave the city. Premier Chris Minns also acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating that they would take Webb's advice for the safety of the public.
The stakes are high and the government is prepared to take further legal action to prevent any chaos on New Year's Eve. Minns added, "We can't have 1.5 million people stranded and unable to get home. That's why we are in court, to make our arguments."
On the other hand, RTBU President Craig Turner expressed his disappointment with the government's stance, stating, "If they cancel the fireworks, it will be the biggest disgrace in the state's history." He also reassured the public that their actions will not impact the safety of the event. "I've worked 11 New Year's Eves and this will be no different. With our actions in place, it will be just as safe as any other year. We would never put the public's safety at risk, it's something we have never done and never will."
Union Secretary Toby Warnes also chimed in, stating that their planned industrial action would have minimal impact on commuters trying to get home from the city on New Year's Eve. He clarified, "Our actions will only result in a slight reduction in train services, but we will have 40% more staff working to ensure that there are no major disruptions."
The union also emphasized that there is no industrial action planned for this weekend and any disruptions are due to scheduled track work. However, businesses are still concerned about the possibility of the celebrations being cancelled. Businesses NSW CEO Daniel Hunter stated, "It would be a disaster for Sydney, for NSW, for businesses and workers, and for our international brand if the unions force a cancellation of our iconic New Year's Eve celebrations. It would take us years to recover from this."
Despite the Federal Court's decision to allow the union's work bans, Transport Minister Jo Haylen remains determined to prevent any chaos on New Year's Eve. She acknowledged the challenges of making last-minute changes to the network under industrial action, stating, "This is not a toy train set. You can't just move it around with the click of your fingers and expect it to serve the millions of people who rely on it each day." The government is taking further legal action to ensure that commuters are not affected on New Year's Eve.
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