Groups say 'enough is enough' with ongoing 'transport disturbance'
New South Wales (NSW) employers said they “had enough” of the disruptions affecting Sydney’s train network, the State’s peak business organization Business NSW, said in a media release.
Business NSW said it supported the NSW Government’s decision to seek resolution in the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to set a limit under the ongoing disruption to Sydney’s train operations.
“Business NSW has supported a common sense resolution to the dispute between the transport unions and the NSW Government but it is now time for both sides to put down their weapons and resolve this mess,” Business NSW CEO, Daniel Hunter, said.
With all the incidents of torrential rain, floods, and a surge in COVID-19 cases in Sydney, Hunter said that business operators across the State do not need more industrial action and rail disruptions to add to their burden.
Cost for businesses
While Hunter noted that the Sydney economy has started to boost again following the COVID19 lockdowns in 2021, he said that the current disruption on the Sydney rail network could significantly weaken businesses in the State that relied on office workers who use public transportations.
“NSW Treasury estimates last week’s transport network disruption cost our economy $68m,” Hunter said. “This is more than just a number on a page, this is a hit to the hip pocket of hospitality, retail and entertainment business owners across our city.”
The Business NSW CEO said that the disruption of Sydney’s train services could send the wrong message that Sydney is not ready to welcome businesses.
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“At the same time that we are trying to encourage people to return to offices and reignite CBD economies, we’ve got train services being disrupted and thousands of commuters being left stranded,” he said.
“It is time for the rail unions to put the families and businesses of NSW first and come to the table to end the industrial action,” he added.
Call for resolution of transport conflicts
Recently, Business NSW called on the representatives of the Combined Rail Unions to negotiate and work with the NSW Government to address the industrial disputes ahead of several days of anticipated Sydney train disruption.
According to Hunter, the dispute between the Unions and the NSW Government affected thousands of workers and said this would also significantly impact businesses across Sydney in the coming days.
“The message from the business community is for both parties to sit down and resolve the remaining issues so we can avoid disruption on our transport network and ensure that thousands of Sydneysiders can get to work and get home safely and on time,” Hunter said.
Ultimately, NSW employers reminded any workforce threatening industrial disruption that the businesses and families of NSW suffer most from strike actions.