‘Hard to control an angry workforce’: Why Sydney’s rail chaos could get worse

The state government has sought a suspension of protected industrial action in the FWC on Wednesday. In the event of a loss, Minns said he was prepared to explore “all options” to protect Sydney commuters from further rail chaos.

“So I’m not taking anything off the table, and we’re exploring all options if we go down on Wednesday,” he said.

Watt could terminate the rail unions’ protected industrial action under section 431 of the Fair Work Act if he believes it endangered the welfare of the population or part of it, or was causing “significant damage” to an important part of the Australian economy. The move would be unprecedented, with the declaration never being invoked before, either by a federal Labor or Coalition government.

The sense of uncertainty has flummoxed both union leaders and Sydney Train executives, as conflicting messages among rail workers urged absenteeism and operating as normal, simultaneously. Another message directed staff to go to work, noting that unpredictability was a powerful negotiating strategy. The Herald was unable to confirm the source of either message.

The fear about loss of pay came after the state government issued “lockout” or 471 notices on Friday, directing workers to come into work and complete their full duties or not come in at all.

Warnes said delegates had been informed about a member being docked his wages for an 11-hour shift after his train ran slower than scheduled. This evidence was anecdotal until pay day next Friday might confirm this, Warnes conceded.

But he questioned claims that absenteeism was up to 50 per cent above average, saying the “numbers today look normal”.

Minns rubbished any suggestion marked increases in rail employee absenteeism since Friday was not co-ordinated, saying the union leadership was playing the public for “mugs”.

“If you’ve got sick leave 40 and 50 per cent above what it normally is, it leads you to only one conclusion, that they’re not coming to work as part of the industrial campaign,” Minns said.

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