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. 

Man Charged After Allegedly Assaulting A Child On Central Coast Train.

BY JESSICA WORBOYS

Officers have charged a 22-year-old man after allegedly assaulting a child on a train travelling northbound from Sydney yesterday.

The officers were approached at Woy Woy station by a witness who was concerned for the welfare of a 10-month-old boy on board the train.

Senior Constable Sara Burgess says “the boy appeared to have injuries and was distressed.”

“Officers were told the child was allegedly assaulted several times during the trip from Sydney, by a man believed to be travelling with the child’s mother.”

Officers arrested the man where he was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, domestic violence related, at Gosford Police Station.

He was refused bail to appear before Gosford Local Court today.

The child was taken by NSW Ambulance Paramedics to Gosford Hospital and is in a stable condition. He will be placed in care and police are working with the Department of Family and Community Services. 

Hunter groups lobbying to save jobs

An alliance of business and union groups has formed to save Hunter jobs

The Australian Industry Group, Hunter Business Chamber, Hunternet and Newcastle Trades Hall Council have joined up to lobby the state government about building train carriages in Hunter rather than buying them overseas.

“Whilst we welcome the announcement and the investment decisions that are going to be made in relation to passenger rail in the future, we’re just mindful of the fact that we don’t want the state government to miss out on what could wonderful opportunity to support manufacturing capabilities in the hunter region,” said Hunternet CEO, Tony Cade.

The NSW government wants to spend $2.8billion on 65 new intercity trains.

“Certainly an off the shelf imported product may present more difficulties than a locally produced high quality product that we have the capabilities and we have the resources to be able to supply” said Mr Cade, “the advantages by having a locally manufactured product include the impacts on keeping capabilities in the region, obviously incomes paid in the regions will contribute to tax”.

The group co-signed a letter to Premier Mike Baird about the issue.