00:00It's hard to know what's more frustrating, waiting for a train that doesn't come, or
00:07sitting on a train that doesn't move.
00:10We go slowly up, and then it stops, and it goes normal again, and then it just stops
00:15for two hours.
00:16On time running this morning was achieved by just 20 per cent of services.
00:20By the end of the day, cancellations will have reached 1,000.
00:25Some commuters say they were stranded for several hours.
00:28It's really frustrating because you've got people who don't drive and who need to rely
00:34on public transport.
00:36They are squeezing the life out of our rail network.
00:41In fact, it is the boa constrictor that the unions boast about.
00:45Now, it is intolerable.
00:47The Rail, Tram and Bus Union implemented a go slow on some parts of the network, limiting
00:52the speeds of some trains, but the government says most of today's chaos came from another
00:57source.
00:58Some of the major impacts today were created by the Electrical Trades Union, and that is
01:02as a result of critical maintenance work that wasn't undertaken last night, at both Bondi
01:07Junction and also at Homebush.
01:10That is the root cause of the major delays we've seen today.
01:13At the heart of the dispute, pay and conditions.
01:16The government's offering 15 per cent over four years, including a super increase.
01:21That's less than half the RTBU's demand, but unions say they're also concerned the proposed
01:26deal could strip them of some of their rights to speak up on safety.
01:30Removal of this clause, we fear, would lead to worse safety outcomes for people across
01:35Sydney.
01:36After months of uncertainty, commuters are beyond weary.
01:40I feel cranky with both sides really, because I just think it's the people that are suffering.
01:47If this action continues in the coming days, we will see similar levels of impact and potentially
01:52it may get worse on Thursday and again on Friday.
01:56More delays will mean more disruption to people's lives and the wider economy, but
02:00the government thinks that damage could help strengthen its case to try to stop this industrial
02:05action in the courts.
02:07We of course continue to work with and talk with the Fair Work Commission, and we will
02:11consider all of our legal avenues, including in the Federal Court.
02:15They should be in court today, and it is the government's inaction in respect of its union
02:21mates which is causing this delay today.
02:25Whatever friendship they had has fast eroded, along with the patience of the public.
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