The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has condemned a decision by Transdev and Transport for NSW (TfNSW) to shut down Sydney Ferries’ public transport services along the Parramatta River this weekend in retaliation for the union’s fare-free ferries industrial action. Ferry workers will continue to turn up for work and be paid, ready to provide the safe and efficient public transport service they are employed to deliver. The MUA said Transdev and TfNSW were instead choosing to cancel services at the expense of commuters in an attempt to pressure a workforce they know is deeply committed to public service. MUA Deputy Branch Secretary Paul Garrett said the decision was an act of retaliation against both workers and the travelling public.

“Transdev have thrown their toys out of the cot in an embarrassing admission that the MUA clearly has the power to declare fare-free travel on Sydney Ferries, but also as an act of petty revenge against the travelling public who have shown overwhelming support for the workers’ campaign for better wages and fatigue management provisions,” Mr Garrett commented.

The union’s industrial action has seen Sydney Ferries turnstiles left wide open allowing passengers to travel fare-free while workers continue their campaign for a 5 per cent wage increase, proper wage protection against inflation and roster improvements that will reduce the dependency on overtime that undermines proper fatigue management. Mr Garrett said TfNSW had a responsibility to intervene rather than allow its private contractor to escalate the dispute by cancelling public transport services and disadvantaging the community.

“Transport Minister John Graham has to intervene now against this rogue multinational private operator that thinks a sane response to workers asking for a fair go is to start cancelling public transport services,” Mr Garrett commented, “If Transdev chooses to cancel services, that is a decision being made by the company, not by the workers. The workers are ready to do their jobs and will be at work across the weekend being paid to leave boats tied up to the wharf.”



The MUA said the decision further exposed the failure of privatisation to deliver a public transport system that puts passengers and workers ahead of corporate interests.

“The people of Sydney deserve better than Transdev and TfNSW’s pigheaded and damaging workplace relations strategy. Instead of cancelling services and lying to the public, Transdev and TfNSW should come to the negotiating table and hammer out a fair deal with the committed and professional workers who actually deliver this public service,” Mr Garrett commented.