Keolis Downer Under Fire For Poor Communication Following Bus Strike

 BY PETER HYSLOP

Newcastle Transport operator Keolis Downer is under fire for providing little communication to schools and locals after a stop work notice issued by the Rail Tram and Bus Union meant all services ground to a halt yesterday afternoon (Thursday March 13).

School and public timetables were thrown into chaos with some students stranded across the region, after the Union claimed a member of the public jumped on a bus and threatened to come back and attack the driver with a machete.

The local Health and Safety Representative then issued a cease unsafe work notice, which meant all buses were called back to their depots at Hamilton and Belmont, causing a slew of delays, before resuming later in the afternoon.

The RTBU has described the violence on buses as out of control, but Keolis Downer has questioned the way the Union handled the action claiming they didn't follow procedure outlined by SafeWork NSW.

The operator says the matter's being investigated.

 

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Hunter Catholic School Staff Strike Over Salary Dispute

 BY IAN CROUCH

Office staff at Hunter Catholic schools are walking off the job today (Thursday 6 June, 2024) over a pay dispute.

The Independent Education Union says the Maitland Newcastle Catholic Diocese has refused to pass on an 8% increase paid to teachers, instead offering a 3% pay rise.

Branch secretary Amanda Hioe says salaries for school-based psychologists and counsellors have fallen far behind those in government schools, meaning the Diocese will struggle to retain this critical resource.

Staff will rally at Wickham Park at 3.30pm before marching to the Catholic Schools office on Hunter Street.

InfraBuild Workers To Walk Off The Job Amid Pay Talks

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Employees at Newcastle steel-maker InfraBuild will walk of the job from midday today, as they call for a fairer pay deal. 

The action involves members of the Australian Workers' Union (AWU), the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU), and the Electrical Trades Union (ETU.  

Members at both the Rod and AusTube Mills say the company's wage offer fails to keep pace with the cost of living, and low staffing levels have been affecting the morale of workers. 

They also say management has moved them from a 12-hour shift pattern to an 8-hour one, and has taken away paid shower time and break provisions. 

Organiser, Ben Horan from the Newcastle Branch of the AWU, says they are currently negotiating two InfraBuild enterprise agreements, which both expired in August.

"There has been some movement from the company which is encouraging...but we're just coming to a sticking point at the moment around wages and trying to keep our members up with the cost of living," he said. 

The action will run for two hours, however Mr. Horan says they'll keep fighting if they have to. 

"Moving forward, we're going to be absolutely ramping it up a lot more, with minimum 12-hour stoppages and things of that nature." 

The industrial action marks the first time there have been strikes at the mills in 30 years. 

Hunter Paramedics and Patient Transport Officers Join 24 Hour Strike

BY JACQUELYN RICHARDS

Paramedics and patient transport officers across Newcastle and the Hunter are joining the strike against government inaction on wages today. 

Workers are demanding action from the government on their promise to scrap the public sector wage cap which limits pay rises at 3%. 

As part of the industrial action, workers will not be taking patients home from hospitals once they've been discharged. 

Patients will still be able to get into hospitals, but the system will be delayed as patient transport workers refuse to transfer patients seeking transport from hospitals to residential and age care facilities. 

It's estimated thousands of patients across the Hunter and the state will be inconvenienced. 

The state government has been slow moving on their promise for better pay, and Health Services Union Secretary Gerard Hayes is doubtful they'll meet their timeline to effect change by June 1st. 

"We've got 43 days until the 1st of July when a wage deal should be in place and clearly that's not going to happen," said Mr. Hayes. 

Mr. Hayes also noted the government's lack of care towards health care workers amidst the current cost of living crisis, saying it's forcing local paramedics to move out of state for work. 

If not resolved, he warns the healthcare system in New South Wales will crumble. 

"We're seeing paramedics now starting to move on mass to Queensland, to Victoria, so shortly we'll be struggling to have a paramedic service at all," he said. 

Mr. Hayes has made clear the demands the union has for healthcare workers, and says they'd like to see change actioned as quickly as possible. 

"We'd like to see a 6.5% pay rise as of the 1st of July, we'd like the government to be able to sit down with us and be able to undertake award reform of a range of awards," he said. 

"We'd like to stop the government stealing money out of workers pockets with respect to their salary packaging that health workers currently have; the government takes 50% of that salary packaging and we'd like to see a royal commission as soon as possible." 

Health Services Union members insist they don't want industrial action to harm patients, but want to ensure the government clearly understands the effect their inaction has had on workers amidst inflation and the cost of living crisis. 

"Paramedics and patient transfer officers have taken action today to ensure that the government is clearly understanding the level of anxiety that people are suffering on the back of 7% inflation and wages not moving," Mr. Hayes said. 

This is the first major industrial action which has taken place since the new state government won the election. 

PKK Mining Equipment Workers Walk Off the Job, Rallying for Fairer Pay Deal

BY DANEIE GEDDES

Workers at PPK Mining Equipment at Tomago have walked off the job for 24 hours, rallying for a fairer pay deal.

Workers say they are fed-up with business owner, Dale McNamara, who ran as an Independent candidate in the seat of Upper Hunter at the recent state election.   

They say Mr McNamara froze pay at the beginning of 2021, promising to make it up to them once a big merger went through with Valley Longwall International, which has occurred. 

Vice President of the Australian Workers Union NSW Branch, Cameron Wright, said workers are now being asked to accept a deal which doesn't come close to matching the rising the cost of living. 

"Dale McNamara likes to claim he's a friend to workers in the Hunter but he has betrayed the trust of his employees at PPK," he said. 

"PKK workers won't accept a sub-par deal that doesn't give them a fair cut of the profitability they've helped create."

After rallying at Tomago Roundabout this morning, workers hope Mr McNamara agrees to get back around the table to negotiate a fair deal and a reasonable, comprised outcome. 

"I hate to say it, but if we can't do that, then we're likely to be out here at the Tomago Roundabout again," Mr Wright said.   

TAFE staff stage walkouts across the Hunter

BY DARCY MCGAVIN

Hunter TAFE teachers are walking off the job this week, in the latest wave of industrial action.

Staff at Belmont and Kurri Kurri TAFE already walked out on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, holding a one-hour stop work meeting at midday.

Newcastle teachers are set to follow suit on Wednesday, as a dispute with the State Government over pay and conditions continues.

Teachers Federation members are calling for fairer wages, job security, sustainable workloads and better working conditions.

It's the first time in eleven years that TAFE Federation members are taking industrial action, and has been designed to have minimal impact on student learning.

Teachers Federation TAFE Organiser Annette Bennett says the strikes send a clear message, the issues need to be addressed.

"It's up to the government, they've not listened to TAFE teachers eleven years," Bennett said. "The cuts to teachers conditions affect the students learning conditions."

"The teachers across the board have had enough of their salaries diminishing and their working conditions getting worse."

Staff walking out at Belmont on Monday. Image credit: Yasmin Catley.

Hunter commuters to expect more rail delays

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Hunter commuters can expect more delays on the rail network this month, as industrial action continues.

The industrial campaign by the Rail, Tram and Bus Union begins this Sunday with a network-wide ban on transport officers issuing fines and cautions.

Trains on the Hunter and Central Coast lines will be disrupted from 10am from 4pm on August 23, with a major strike by rail workers.

There'll be similar strikes in Wollongong and southern Sydney on August 10, in Sydney and south-eastern parts of the state on August 17, and another strike in the Sydney CBD on August 25.

From August 12, cleaners will be banned from using vacuum cleaners or scrubbing machines, and the day after, station staff will begin to leave gates open at all times.

On August 15, crews will only operate trains that meet maintenance centre minimum standards, while a ban on operating foreign-made trains will begin on August 31.

Public and Catholic school teachers to strike side-by-side in historic first

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Teachers from both public and Catholic schools will strike side-by-side together next Thursday, in a historic first for the two unions.

The Teachers Federation and the Independent Education Union made the call after a joint meeting on Tuesday.

They'll walk off the job on June 30, in protest of the State Government's decision to raise the public sector pay cap to just 3 percent, and ongoing concerns about conditions and workloads in the schooling system.

It's understood, Catholic diocesan employers follow the Government policy on wages for school staff, despite not being required to do so.

The Education Minister says she's disappointed the unions have chosen to strike again, especially given it will be the last day of the financial year.

Newcastle bus drivers to escalate action with 24-hour strike, ban on consoles

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Newcastle bus drivers are set to escalate their industrial action from next Monday, as talks with operator Keolis Downer over pay and conditions continue.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union says the operator is failing to meet their demands for a seven percent wage increase over two years.

Drivers were set to go ahead with action this week, turning off the Opal card readers, but retracted the decision.

They'll instead move forward with a 24-hour strike from 2:01am next Monday morning, meaning no buses will run across the Newcastle Transport network.

At the end of the strike, they'll begin an indefinite ban on logging into and using the Bus Driver Console, which means Opal card readers aren't likely to operate.

The union is apologising to commuters, but claims the blame is on Keolis Downer for failing to meet them at the table.

Image credit: transportnsw.info

Hunter's public sector workers walk off the job for 24 hours

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Hunter members of the Public Service Association (PSA) are going ahead with today's industrial action, despite the State Government's pay rise in its upcoming budget. 

Premier Dominic Perrottet announced on Monday the Government's new wages policy, which would lift the long-standing 2.5 percent pay cap to 3 percent, with a one-off $3,000 bonus for NSW Health employees. 

However, PSA members are calling the offer insulting, saying it would represent a significant pay cut to workers in real terms, and does not keep pace with the current or rising cost of living. 

PSA Assistant General Secretary Troy Wright, says the union's distress has not been alleviated. 

"What hasn't changed is, our members are still angry, and they're actually even angrier, with the scale of this offer," he said.

"The Premier has sought to divide the public sector, saying there's good ones and bad ones; some are deserving of the $3000 dollar bonus for working through the pandemic, and others in frontline roles that we represent, aren't." 

Employee Services Minister Damien Tudehope described the union's decision as "disappointing", while the Premier maintains the offer is "fair and responsible", and balances the concerns of unions with the Government's budget constraints.

The state-wide strike will see a number of essential services impacted, with members hoping it will cause the Government to revise their offer. 

"It will certainly effect all sorts of public services where our members work and the public rely on them; frontline services that the Premier seems to be ignoring," Mr Wright said.

 

"Things like the courts, things like community services and child protection workers, things like Service NSW and things like prisons and schools."

"We hope they see sense, but this Government doesn't have a good track record of seeing sense. We will review our options after the strike action and whether it takes the attention of the Government."

Image credit: Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp.

Hunter nurses say budget commitments aren't enough to solve healthcare crisis

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Hunter nurses are slamming the NSW Government's new health spending and budget commitments, with concern it won't fix the healthcare crisis.

The Premier yesterday announced a $4.5 billion recruitment drive to find 10,000 new nurses, doctors, and other staff over the next four years, with $1.76 billion of that dedicated to paramedic personnel and new stations.

The wage increase cap for public sector workers will also be lifted from 2.5 to 3 percent, and then to 3.5 percent the year after.

The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association has been pushing for a 4.75 percent increase, however, still below inflation, which currently sits at 5.1 percent.

Dominic Perrottet has described the offer as "fair and reasonable", having to balance the interests of unions and the Government's financial bottom line.

But John Hunter Branch Secretary Rachel Hughes says it's insulting to nurses.

"Was it fair and responsible for all the bonuses that the state politicians got?" she said. "Bonuses between $5,000 and $160,000 each, while we struggled to get what we were entitled to with pay rises over the last two years."

"Where does this fair and responsible come in with the community and the patients that we're concerned about? Is he?"

The Government's also handing out a $3,000 payment to all public health workers, to say thanks for their work on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The union maintains, however, the Government's failed to meet their major demands, and the recruitment drive

Ms Hughes says the Premier is "tone-deaf" when it comes to their real concerns.

"Our biggest request was ratios to make it safer for patients and nurses, and we also asked for a pay rise that reinstated the pay cuts and freezes we'd had over the pandemic," she said.

"Unfortunately he failed to deliver on either of those."

"There will be further action. The response from the Government is just not enough."

Image credit: NSW Nurses and Midwives Association.

Newcastle bus drivers shut off the engines for four-hour strike

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Newcastle bus drivers are walking off the job on Friday, turning off the engines for four hours in a dispute over pay and conditions.

It comes after the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) voted to reject the latest offer of a wage increase from Keolis Downer, Newcastle Transport's private operator.

Members are calling on both the company and the State Government to step up and come to the table with a better offer.

Tram and Bus Division President Daniel Jaggers says drivers haven't been left any other choice.

"Keolis Downer told drivers they could work seven days a week to supplement their income, because they claim they can only pay what the State Government gives them," Mr Jaggers said.

"If that is the case, the RTBU is calling on Minister David Elliott to have these contracts readjusted to ensure our members receive a living wage."

Buses won't be operating from 10am to 2pm on Friday, and members will also gather at the Hamilton Bus Depot at 10:45am, before marching to Wickham Park.

It's hoped the stop-work will minimise disruptions at peak travel times for students and workers.

School bus services aren't expected to be affected.

Keolis Downer has been approached for comment, but Newcastle Transport has apologised for the disruption on social media.

Image credit: https://newcastletransport.info

Strike on the cards for University of Newcastle staff

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Staff at the University of Newcastle are poised to walk off the job later this year, as concern grows around pay and conditions.

Members of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) voted on Wednesday to take the first step toward industrial action, by applying to the Fair Work Commission for a Protected Action Ballot Order.

Newcastle Branch President Dan Conway says it's not a surprising outcome.

"I think experience has shown us through eight rounds of enterprise bargaining in the sector now, that things don't really start to move until there is a threat, and sometimes the actual occurrence of industrial action taking place," he said.

"Unfortunately it's a natural progression. I would have loved to have felt like we were making strong progress all the way through bargaining without having to move to this, but it's somewhat inevitable I think."

It comes a week after the revelation the University made a $185 million surplus in 2021, despite citing financial concerns as the driver for major cuts to staff and courses.

Vice-Chancellor Alex Zelinsky says most of that surplus is a one-off from investments and shares which will spent on infrastructure such as student accommodation and upgrades to teaching spaces.

The NTEU argues, however, the money should be invested back into the teaching body.

Mr Conway says the move toward industrial action was in the works before last week's news, but it has added to their list of concerns.

There are number of steps to take internally as well as with the Fair Work Commission, but it's understood the union is bracing to take industrial action early in the second semester.

"Obviously we take part in lower level actions first, but I'm of the strong view, and many of the members are of the strong view, that the only thing that really has an impact is the withdrawal of labour," Mr Conway said.

"Hopefully the mere threat of the withdrawal of labour will be enough to start to get some real traction at the table."

Vice-Chancellor Alex Zelinsky says the University will continue to work with the NTEU when it comes to enterprise bargaining, but did note that the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), which is also participating in the bargaining process, hasn't pursued industrial action.

"Should this occur, and NTEU members engage in industrial action, this will likely impact on our students as well as our staff," Mr Zelinsky said.

"Our aims in this round of enterprise bargaining are to help strengthen benefits and conditions that work for individuals as well as the institution, while ensuring our university remains financially sustainable for the long-term."

Hunter teachers take industrial action for second time in six months

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Hunter teachers are walking off the job today, just a week into the school term, taking industrial action for the second time in just six months.

It's part of a push for better working conditions and pay rates.

The NSW Teachers Federation also striked in December, but the union says the Premier hasn't met their demands.

Today's action comes after a new poll was released, finding almost three quarters of teachers in Newcastle felt their workload was unmanageable and they were reconsidering their career because of it.

Regional Organiser Jack Galvin Waight says

"Teachers across the Hunter are striking today because we're fed up with a government that's shown it doesn't care about students and it doesn't care about the profession," Mr Galvin Waight said.

"We suspended our industrial campaign in Term One, and tried to negotiate, but they refused to listen.

"Teachers have been left with no alternative but to act today.

"The only thing the Government hasn't tried is reducing workloads and paying teachers a competitive salary that reflects their expertise and abilities."

Teachers have already been permitted to walk out of the classroom if Government MPs visited their school, including a walkout at a Sydney school when Dominic Perrottet showed up on Tuesday.

It comes just a day after a Government proposal, to ease staff shortages by endorsing unqualified teachers as subject specialists.

Mr Galvin Waight says it's an insult to teachers, students, and parents.

"This is outrageous, and shows the State Government is desperate," Mr Galvin Waight said.

"One of the most fundamental roles of a government is to ensure there is a qualified teacher in every classroom, with the time and support to meet the needs of every child.

"The State Government cannot be allowed to take a low road approach and reducing standards, but instead address the real causes of shortages - uncompetitive salaries and unsustainable workloads."

Image credit: NSW Teachers Federation.

Hunter teachers to walk off the job as almost three-quarters reconsider career

BY DAKOTA TAIT

NSW Teachers Federation members across the Hunter will join their colleagues to walk off the job next Wednesday.

It's just a week after Term 2 started.

They've also been permitted to leave the classroom if Government MP's visit their school grounds, and won't adopt new Government policies and initiatives in the classroom.

The union's calling for better pay and improved working conditions, especially as the country records its highest inflation rate in 20 years.

It's understood, while the union has been in talks with the State Government, the Premier's failed to address members' concerns over uncompetitive salaries and scrapping a 2.5 percent salary cap.

It comes as a new poll of Newcastle teachers found almost three-quarters said their workload is unmanageable and were reconsidering their position.

89 percent didn't feel their pay reflected their expertise and responsibilities, while 85 percent said staff shortages were very significant.

Department of Education data from last October has revealed, across the State electorates of Newcastle, Maitland, Wallsend, Charlestown, and Port Stephens, there were 114 vacant permanent teaching positions.

Hunter nurses and midwives walk off job for better conditions

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Nurses and midwives are joining their coworkers across the State for a strike on Tuesday, in a push for improved conditions, better nurse-to-patient ratios, and a pay rise.

23 branches of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association across the Hunter New England Health District are taking part in the action. 

Maitland Branch Secretary Kathy Chapman says the Premier needs to listen to what's being said.

"We're calling on him to actually open his eyes, and stop making out that everything's okay in our hospitals," Ms Chapman said.

"We want one nurse to have a mandatory maximum to look after four patients, and in ED, we want our emergency nurses not to have to look after six or seven patients, but three."

The John Hunter Hospital's emergency department will run on minimal staffing for twelve hours, while the rest of the hospital will join Maitland, James Fletcher, Belmont, and Muswellbrook for a full 24 hours strike.

Staff at Lower Hunter Community Health and the Waratah Mental Health Centre will put down the tools for just eight-and-a-half hours.

Ms Chapman says the fight's not just for nurses.

"Midwives might look after six mothers who have just birthed, but also if they have one to two babies, they're looking after them as well, and they're not all born healthy," Ms Chapman said.

"We want him to open his eyes, we want one to four on the floor, one to three in ED, and we want babies to count."

A rally will be held at Civic Park in Newcastle at 10am this morning.

Image credit: HNE Health

Hunter teachers gathering steam ahead of Tuesday strike

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Local MPs and councillors have rallied behind Hunter teachers this morning, ahead of the sector's first 24-hour strike in a decade next Tuesday.

The Hunter is set to join 60,000 teachers and principals across New South Wales in walking off the job in protest of critical teacher shortages.

NSW Teachers Federation Regional Organiser Jack Galvin-Waight says teachers are at the end of their tether.

"Teachers are striking on Tuesday, because we have to," Mr Galvin-Waight said. "We've exhausted every available option."

"The teacher shortage in New South Wales and the Hunter is crippling our schools, they're crippling our students."

"Irrefutable evidence, including an independent inquiry, says the reason we have teacher shortages is uncompetitive salaries and excessive workloads."

Pay rises for teachers have been stuck at a cap of 2.5 percent for the past ten years, which has been described as an effective pay freeze.

Hunter Workers Secretary Leigh Shears told reporters we all need to stand in solidarity with teachers.

"We support our teachers right across our region and the State," Mr Shears said. 

"They're fighting the save the future of their profession, and for quality education across New South Wales."

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp, Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison, Cessnock MP Clayton Barr and Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes joined union members at a Hunter Workers event earlier today.

Mr Crakanthorp says our teachers deserve our support. 

"Our teachers get a raw deal," Mr Crakanthorp said. "Our teachers do so much more than teaching."

"Our teachers are unofficial sports coaches. Our teachers are unofficial nurses. Our teachers are unofficial counselors."

"When our kids walk through those gates at school, our teachers will do anything for those kids to get them through."

The strike is the latest in a series of actions undertaken by teachers across the Hunter over the year.

Mr Galvin-Waight says it's now or never for the teaching sector.

"The State Government's documents, in their own words, have said we're running out of teachers, we're going to run out of teachers in five years, and again in their own words, they've lied," Mr Galvin-Waight said.

"We're saying this to Mr Perrottet. If you don't care about the teacher shortages, you don't care about our kids."

 

Hunter Trains to Slow Down in Industrial Action This Saturday

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Hunter commuters should expect a long trip this Saturday, with trains sticking to just 60km an hour as part of a push for a fairer enterprise agreement. 

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union also launched a ban on overtime work today, with a full network stoppage set to follow from 9am to 1pm next Tuesday.

It's hoped the actions will help secure safer conditions for rail workers.

NSW Secretary Alex Claassens says while community frustration is understandable, low-level actions in previous weeks had been ignored by the Government.

"We deserve some respect, our members have continued to work all the way through COVID like a lot of other essential workers have been," Mr Claassens.

"We've done our job really really well, and we deserve some respect and we need people to sit at the table with us and have a proper conversation."

Mr Claassens says severe delays are likely despite efforts to minimise disruption for the public.

"Certainly, anybody coming from a long way like Newcastle, it's going to be a very long journey for anybody that lines up for that one on Saturday, absolutely" Mr Claassens said.

"We really don't want to be doing this, but unfortunately we've been forced into it."

National Transport Strike Threatens Essential Supplies To The Hunter

BY IAN CROUCH

Workers employed by transport and logistics giant, Toll Group have voted to take industrial action, with a national 24 hour strike planned for Friday 27 August.

The strike has the potential to disrupt deliveries of parcels, groceries and petrol.

It comes after crisis talks on Monday with the Transport Workers Union broke down despite the company agreeing to up its pay offer and ditch plans to cut overtime.

TWU National Secretary, Michael Kaine said the talks failed to address job security concerns over the employment of workers on rolling short-term contracts and the use of labour-hire workers ahead of staff directly employed by the company.

"Toll workers have been forced to take this last resort option to go on strike this week because their jobs are being smashed," he said

"To do nothing would be to wait like sitting ducks for the jobs they've skillfully done for decades to be given away to the lowest common denominator, If workers had accepted this today, their jobs could have been contracted out moments after signing on the dotted line."

The union has been seeking a 3 per cent pay rise - the company offered a one-payment of $750 to cover for last when enterprise bargaining negotiations were delayed. It's now increased the offer to 2 per cent per year for the next two years.

President of Toll's Global Express division, Alan Beacham said the company had the best enterprise agreement in the road transport industry and urged the union to return to the negotiating table.

Toll also claims the strike "risks disrupting" the national COVID-19 vaccine rollout, but the union has refuted the assertion, saying the medical supplies are excluded from the industrial action.

Toll management said the company would be able to manage any disruption caused by the strike, assuring customers their goods would be transported during the industrial action.

Toll truck drivers will strike for 24 hours on Friday
 Picture: transportjournal.com

Hundreds Of Downer Group Workers Strike Over Pay And Conditions

BY IAN CROUCH

Work on Newcastle's Light Rail project will be disrupted as hundreds of workers go on strike for three days from today.

Around 300 Downer workers in the Hunter are taking part in the industrial action as they push for a 3 per cent pay rise.

Union representatives say the company has refused to budge on negotiations for a new enterprise agreement and workers won't accept cuts to conditions and a minimal pay rise despite the company reporting a surge in profits.

Electrical Trades Union Secretary Dave McKinley said, "It comes on the back of the last enterprise agreement where there was a drop in wages and conditions.

"Unfortunately, the company is making record profits now and they want to take further money off the employees.

"They're asking for a 3% wage increase and a reinstatement of the conditions that were taken off them at the last EBA," Dave McKinley said.

The strike could also impact the Eraring and Bayswater Power Stations, Mount Thorley Coal Mine and the Williamtown RAAF Base.

In a statement, the company says: 

"Downer remains available and willing to have further discussions with employees and Unions to negotiate a new EBA. We have offered a sustainable and fair 2.25% pay increase, which is above CPI and above current market pay rates, and also includes no changes to existing conditions.

"Downer is working with its customer to ensure that the current strike action has minimal impact on transport services."

       
A mass meeting is being held at Hexham this morning before workers reassemble in Newcastle and march to the Light Rail site in Hunter Street.

Image Source: Ian Kirkwood Twitter