Talks Fail To Resolve Train Stoppage

Date: 22 December 2003

A four-hour train stoppage in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong is likely to go ahead tomorrow after talks failed to resolve a dispute over the restructure of the state's railways.

Unions representing the state's 17,000 rail workers face an uncertain Christmas with up to 13,000 unsure of their status when the Carr Government merges the State Rail Authority and the Rail Infrastructure Corporation on January 1.

"What we do know is that some 200 injured workers have been told there is no place for them in the new structure," Rail Tram and Bus Union state secretary Nick Lewocki said today. "This is both immoral and possibly illegal."

Mr Lewocki said rail workers apologised for any inconvenience to the public but said the workers were determined to protect their injured colleagues.

"We will be stopping work between 10am and 2pm tomorrow but we are committed to getting people to work and getting them home again," Mr Lewocki said

Further talks are scheduled for 4pm this afternoon, but Mr Lewocki said the public should be prepared for tomorrow's stoppage.

"Nothing we have heard today gives us confidence that State Rail management will respect the rights of their long-term injured staff," Mr Lewocki.

"If this issue is not resolved in could be a long hot summer for NSW commuters."

Rail union representatives will be available to comment to the media at Midday, Level 9, 377 Sussex Street

For more details call Peter Lewis on 0413 873285

For further information

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

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