There have been more delays and cancellations on Sydney’s rail network as unions continue industrial action. 65 trips were cancelled today, bringing the total number of cancelled services over the weekend to more than 650. Parts of the hospitality sector are not backing the state government’s legal bid on Christmas Eve to stop the action.
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00:00In the last-minute dash for a Christmas gift, a train delay is the last thing you need.
00:11I am Christmas shopping and I really wanted to get this thing for my friend, my family
00:16friend, and I couldn't get it because the shop closed.
00:20Workers from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union and other groups are taking industrial action,
00:25calling for better pay and conditions.
00:27But the state government says it can't afford to meet their demands.
00:31The stalemate has led to threats Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks could be cancelled
00:35if there aren't enough trains running on the day.
00:37What they're doing around Christmas time, New Year, it's just trying to lever the government.
00:42They wouldn't even think about doing it in June, they're doing it over Christmas, New
00:45Year.
00:46The issue will come to a head in the Fair Work Commission on Christmas Eve, when the
00:50state government attempts to halt the industrial action on economic harm and safety grounds.
00:55With the prospect of a cancelled fireworks display has the hospitality sector fired
00:59up.
01:00A number of groups lodging their own submissions against the union's industrial action.
01:04If they turn up and argue against that, how can we take them seriously at face value that
01:09they are not considering playing Russian roulette with the state's hospitality sector?
01:16Those gearing up for a busy period fear what could happen.
01:19As a working muso, I have noticed even just this last week that it's just been a bit quieter
01:23than you'd expect.
01:25We have taken bookings in good faith, we want to look after those people, we don't know
01:29whether they'll arrive and we also don't know whether our staff will be able to get to the
01:33venue to serve them if they happen to arrive.
01:36So we're exposed on a few fronts here.
01:39The RTBU and the state's transport minister were both unavailable for interview.