00:00There's not a single line across the suburban network which is what most people catch in
00:07Sydney and indeed it's the most populated train network within the state.
00:12Basically every line has cancelled services or delayed services, some by more than an
00:16hour with the next train continually being pushed back and pushed back and pushed back.
00:20So some real impacts already being felt as we get into the peak hour commute between
00:257.30 right up through until 10 o'clock in the morning.
00:29We spoke to some commuters here already who are bearing the brunt of this and here's what
00:34they had to say.
00:36There was a delay in the morning, like I had to catch my train, I think it was from 6,
00:41I think I forget, it was supposed to come here at 16 but I had to start my job at 7
00:49o'clock but now I'm delayed.
00:51I had to start job at 6 o'clock, still I'm here only.
00:55So it took you 90 minutes, how long should it usually take?
00:5740 minutes, it's more than one and a half hour journey today, it's too late.
01:02If you're a betting person you might say it seems unlikely from the union's early indications
01:07they've said that the offer they believe their members will vote down, it's a long way short
01:13of what their demands have been throughout.
01:15So just to recap for the uninitiated, the unions wanted to see a 32% pay increase over
01:20a four year period, so about 8% a year.
01:23The government yesterday essentially offered 13% over four years plus an additional 2%,
01:28so 15% combined increase, less than half of what the union's asking for.
01:33As well there's also been some amendments to some safety agreements that have been baked
01:38in already.
01:39The government argues it's about modernising the train network.
01:42The union says they're concerned about those agreements, however they've only had a precursory
01:48look at it and will be taking today to talk to its members a lot about exactly what is
01:53on the table, what's at stake and whether or not they should or should not support it,
01:57as well as hearing from members about whether they want to support it.
02:00There's also some efficiencies the government has identified which has been part of this
02:04ability to offer a slightly increased deal to the rail union, however would come at the
02:08cost of 103 jobs roughly, so initially that has also caught the union's attention and
02:15something that they think it's unlikely members are willing to vote in favour for.
02:20If that is the case we could see more industrial action down the track.
02:24Now it's Wednesday to Friday that this action is supposed to run and it includes slowing
02:29down top speeds of intercity trains, these are regional services as well, as well as
02:32the disruption I've told you already about across the suburban network, so the impacts
02:37are pretty much felt in every part of the state that services a rail network, so there
02:42is an appetite to see this solved.
02:44If we're any closer for that matter, well at the moment it looks like the answer is
02:48a big fat no.
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