NSW: Rail union loses bid to halt merger

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2003
NSW: Rail union loses bid to halt merger

SYDNEY, Dec 24 AAP - Unions today lost a bid to stall the merger of two NSW rail bodies,
which they say will cost 1,500 jobs.

The NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) today found it did not have the power
to postpone the state government's amalgamation of State Rail with the Rail Infrastructure
Corporation.

The NSW Labor Council had asked the IRC to postpone the merger for six months, but
it will now go ahead on January 1 as planned.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) NSW secretary Nick Lewocki said the decision was a
slap in the face for rail workers, who had cooperated with major labour reforms over the
past 10 years.

"Commencing immediately the union is withdrawing our support for future industry reform,"

he said.

Union delegates would now meet to discuss further industrial action.

Some union members from outside Sydney wanted to strike on New Year's eve but most
were opposed to such a dramatic move, Mr Lewocki said.

"The leadership of the union doesn't want to use the public as cannon fodder in this
dispute," he said.

The government has promised there will be no forced redundancies as a result of the merger.

But Mr Lewocki said an estimated 1,500 workers would be edged out by the amalgamation.

"These people, in fact, will have no option but to take redundancy because there will
be no worthwhile jobs for them to go to," he said.

Sydney commuters experienced serious delays as rail workers walked off the job yesterday
to protest against the merger.

Comment was being sought from State Rail.

AAP apw/smb/sjb/br

KEYWORD: RAIL IRC LEAD

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