Rail Strike Averted

Date: 28 April 2000

A threatened rail strike next Monday by train controllers which would have crippled train services in NSW has been averted following successful negotiations between State Rail management, the NSW Labor Council and the rail unions.

The Minister for Transport, Mr Carl Scully, and the secretary of the NSW Labor Council, Mr Michael Costa, said agreement had been reached on a proposal to be put to Sydney train controllers next week for an 8 per cent pay increase over two years.

"Concessions were made by both sides in negotiating this result," Mr Scully said.

"The Government and the Labor Council are pleased with the outcome of these negotiations which were conducted today in a cooperative spirit."

Following today's discussions between State Rail management and the leadership of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union and the Australian Services Union, the following proposals will be put to a vote of train controllers on Monday:

· That train controllers will receive a pay increase of 8 per cent over two years.
· There will be no job losses pending a study of workload of Sydney train controllers after the Olympic Games.

Mr Costa said he was pleased that the parties had worked co-operatively to reach agreement.

"This is a good example of the union movement working cooperatively with management to achieve a negotiated outcome," Mr Costa said.

Mr Scully said the agreement would be welcome news for 900,000 daily commuters who rely on CityRail and Countrylink services, as well as freight providers who would also have been affected.

"Everyone concerned has worked hard in good faith to ensure that the people of NSW were not inconvenienced," Mr Scully said.

For further information

Contact:	Peter Lewis
Union:	Labor Council of NSW
WWW:	http://workers.labor.net.au/

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