Unions and Sydney Trains in Deadlock over Pay Negotiations

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Last night's meeting between unions and Sydney Trains bosses ended in deadlock after 10 hours of negotiating.

They're meeting again this afternoon in a bid to resolve the deadlock ahead of planned 24 hour strike action next Monday, and workers planning not to work overtime on Thursday across the state and here in the Hunter.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) rejected an offer put on the table last night which is understood to have been a 3 per cent pay rise and travel entitlements.

"Our members are angry, they're fed up, they're sick of getting the blame for all the stuff that's been going on and we just want a fair deal and we're not getting it," said RTBU State Secretary Alex Classens after the meeting last night.

RTBU NSW Secretary Alex Classens Image news.com.au

The RTBU is asking for a six per cent pay rise and improved conditions, but the government isn't moving far away from their 2.5 per cent cut off.

Sydney Trains boss Howard Collins told reporters after the meeting last night, "I'm hoping that some overnight thinking and some common sense will prevail tomorrow morning that we may hear back from them to say that we want to look after our customers first."

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance copped some flack this morning for not being at last night's meeting, but he said he met with the union on Friday and the right people are in the meetings brokering a deal.

"Because they're working through the specific details and we've got a good agreement on the table and we're going to go from there. I met with the union leaders on Friday, it's appropriate for the management and the bosses to work through the specifics of the deal," said Andrew Constance on Nine this morning.