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| These workers turned up to work, but were told they could not by management. They are not on strike #LiarFromTheShire (source) |
This morning Sydneysiders found they could not take their trains. Caught by surprise, commuters feel frustrated: neither early-starters could go to work nor kids could go to school, night-shift workers couldn’t return home. Those taking a cab or an Uber were left out-of-pocket.
So, who’s to blame? – is what everyone’s asking.
For Scotty from Marketing, a source Aussies can rely for its demonstrated commitment to the truth, it’s all the unions’ fault. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, the guy who didn’t let Omicron rip in NSW (he only relaxed the rules as we faced an unknown variant), agrees: it’s all a Labor/unions conspiracy to make his government look bad. It’s hard to say what David Elliott, NSW Minister for Transport with anger-management problems, says, because he limited himself to bark incoherently like a rabid, stray dog.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) says in a Twitter thread:
Let’s be crystal clear about what is going in on NSW. The RTBU intended to take legitimate and legal industrial action today which would not have affected service. Workers would have worked as per their normal roster. The employer, however, chose to shut down the rail network.
The State Government then publicly stated that the network shutdown was caused by a ‘strike’ by the RBTU. This was false, but was widely reported.
Workers then held a press conference at Central Station, saying “we are here to work, but management is stopping us.”
The PM goes on TV to repeat the lie that workers are on strike, blames the RTBU for inconveniencing Sydneysiders trying to get back to work, and makes some allusion to ‘Labor and the unions’.
This whole scenario smacks of a coordinated and cynical stunt, with the people of Sydney being used as patsies so the PM can engage in dishonest union-bashing.
He has failed on the pandemic, failed on aged care, failed on bushfires and has no vision for a better future, now @ScottMorrisonMP is lying about a non-existent strike to distract from his failures.
It’s hard to imagine the #LiarFromTheShire going lower, but he’s done it. To everyone stuck in Sydney traffic today, we are deeply sorry, but you’re being used for a @ScottMorrisonMP media stunt. End
They also have a media release explaining their position.
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Ashleigh Raper, ABC NSW political reporter, says:
Look, this morning the government took almost everybody including the unions by surprise by shutting down the rail network. Yes, there was planned industrial action by the union, which had been negotiated over the weekend. It had fallen apart. This was by no means wide scale strike action that was going to see train drivers walk off the job. There was an expectation that the network could still operate.
If you ask me, the Government decided to up the ante. Sydney Trains locked out their workers to preempt a protected industrial action. But I don’t think it’s merely a dummy spit, as the RTBU guys say and as everybody keeps repeating.
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| Here are more workers stuck in a meal room because the NSW Government will not let them operate trains this morning. (source) |
What I think is that NSW State Government workers are getting too uppity for COALition pollies’ taste:
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| (source) |
Incidentally, that story, from last week, shows how strikes generally look like: (1) it was announced so as not to catch anyone by surprise, and (2) strikers went to great lengths to ensure disruption was kept to a minimum.
Sure, a lock out is much more disruptive, but Perrottet and Elliott may hope the extra disruption will turn commuters against rail workers. And playing hard ball with rail workers may teach nurses and midwives a lesson.
It all suits Scotty just fine: he is hellbent on striking on a wedge topic against Anthony Albanese and Labor. This could be it. Albo, chicken shit as he is, will bend over backwards not to voice support for the workers, because, well, unions and thugs. And don’t be surprised if, pressed by reporters, he actually voices some mild criticism against workers.
But workers are supposed to be Labor’s natural constituency. You see the wedge right there, don’t you?
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This situation, in my opinion, calls for strikes in solidarity with rail workers. But Australian law is designed to obstruct worker solidarity: solidarity strikes are unlawful.
As I do not work for Sydney Trains and I am not a member of RTBU, I cannot join their protected industrial action. And taking unprotected industrial action could get you over 10 thousand bucks in fine.
But I am seriously considering calling in sick tomorrow. If my employer refuses to pay me, I can live with that.
If you are a worker, maybe you should give that possibility some thought. Also, join your union and consider giving the Greens your first preference this election (you can also donate and the first $1,500 are tax deductible).
Pass the word.
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