[Unobtainable / Cancelled] Free Train Travel: RTBU NSW to Turn off Opal Readers at All Train Stations from Wed 21 September

Ljbird84 on 14/09/2022 - 14:42
Last edited 17/09/2022 - 23:44 by 3 other users

Moved to Forum: Original Link

Reason: Opal card readers will continue to operate on Wednesday. Please read the latest Twitter post by RTBU for details.

First time poster, long time reader. Unions NSW have announced their intent to shut off Opal readers at all train stations starting next Wednesday, 21 September, citing the need for safety improvements and a fair pay rise. I couldn't link to the precise Twitter post as I'm a newbie, but you can find the announcement on their @UnionsNSW account. The link provided goes to The Guardian's mention of the action. The tweet mentions that the NSW Gov't may work out a way to turn the readers back on, so we'll see. Text of the primary tweet is as follows.

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT
All opal machines at train stations in Sydney and NSW will be turned off indefinitely, from Wednesday next week.
If there is no way to tap on or off, you cannot be fined. Please remain vigilant as the NSW Premier may try various tactics to turn machines on.

The Twitter thread continues on detailing the union's reasons for action, which could also be considered free reading material for your free train ride. Cheers.

Mod - Deal link updated

General Discussion

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Comments

      • IMadeYouReadThis on 14/09/2022 - 15:09

        Haha

      • ihbh on 14/09/2022 - 15:13

        Wasn't there someone in the Turk?

    • IMadeYouReadThis on 14/09/2022 - 15:10
      +1

      Hope we get robots to operate the train soon.

      It might be worthwhile getting robots to run the government, there will be no corruption and everyone will get a fair share.

      • Fredfloresjr on 14/09/2022 - 15:18

        Start with the ATO first so I can claim more taxes back.

        • MrThing on 14/09/2022 - 15:22
          +2

          The ATO already uses heaps of automation and data analytics to process tax returns

  • autolux on 14/09/2022 - 15:07
    -1

    i assume if the machines are off then this is slightly diff to the strike action that had the gates opened like a couple weeks ago? i took 5 or 6 trains around the city during work that day and i literally watched for a minute or so each time in disbelief as almost everyone continued to tap on and off like NPC's when it was free, and actually not tapping was a show of solidarity with workers….

    you can lead a horse to water, but doesn't help if the horse is a cowardly retard.

    • D3m3ntia on 14/09/2022 - 15:14

      Um…

    • fusion17 on 14/09/2022 - 15:15

      Gotta be careful as sometimes the other end was not left open, so then you have to pay max fare. Happened to me and I had to lodge a request.
      Now i make sure both sides are left open, thus only 1 way is free.

      • countmein on 14/09/2022 - 15:22

        Yep i did tap on and off because of this reasod, And saw bloddy rangers at the gate, dont know what are they waiting/checking for…. Dont want to get fined for this

        • fusion17 on 14/09/2022 - 15:25
          -1

          Rangers not a problem, id just say i tapped on, gate was open, thought it paid.
          Half the time its working its hard to tell unless this happens anyway.

    • xoom on 14/09/2022 - 15:15
      +1

      Where i get on the barriers are not open. Where i get off is. So you are telling me not to tap? How?

    • alucardoceanic on 14/09/2022 - 15:48

      For some this was the case. I tend to go off hours so I found some occasions where police were checking both at the gates and patrolling on the train. There have also been some cases where they didn't open the gates (for the bigger size pass through) which would be much worse if you were exiting the station.

    • PaulEDangerously on 14/09/2022 - 16:26

      If you're catching connecting trains to the metro or vice versa, these gates were not open. The people who didn't tap on got a rude shock at the gates in the metro stations when these were all closed. Glad I tapped on.

  • dtingy on 14/09/2022 - 15:08
    +2

    I afraid for those who use Park&Ride locations will need to pay $30 as it requires tap off for free parking.

    • Panama on 14/09/2022 - 15:12

      Surely not.

    • sachz on 14/09/2022 - 15:21

      Exactly my concern as well.

      Surely they're turning off those as well.

      Which will mean lots of freeloaders parking in those spots doing their grocery shopping clogging up parking for real train travellers….

      • MrThing on 14/09/2022 - 15:23

        well I mean those park and rides were probably paid for with pork money anyway, so we should all be entitled to them

  • parcus on 14/09/2022 - 15:09
    +1

    Pretty sure there hasn’t been any indication from the government they’ll ‘try various tactics to turn machines on’, that’s just talk from the union side. Only mentioning because every other fare-related action hasn’t had any pushback from the government (public backlash would be obvious)

  • ihbh on 14/09/2022 - 15:13

    Don't count your chicks.

    • xoom on 14/09/2022 - 15:14
      +1

      I like to count my chicks. Giggity.

  • Clear on 14/09/2022 - 15:14
    +4

    Airport and Metro are run by a separate companies so they probably won't be turned off. Great way to get shafted when you have to tap on with no way of tapping off. PITA calling Opal to get the fare adjusted after that.

    • easternculture on 14/09/2022 - 15:18
      -1

      Just jump over the gate ……. and run fast

      • Clear on 14/09/2022 - 15:20
        +2

        Easy in Metro stations when there's really only one staff member and the Ezymart guy.

      • MrThing on 14/09/2022 - 15:24
        +1

        school kids and homeless people have been doing just this forever

        or just tail someone really close

        • easternculture on 14/09/2022 - 15:26

          There is no thrill tailing someone.
          Only awkwardness if you end up touching their arse accidently …. then you would def have to run very fast

    • boretentsu on 14/09/2022 - 15:37

      Thanks for the heads up!

    • Lovemydeals on 14/09/2022 - 17:22

      But they are using the same gates.

      If the opal network is down, it would be down everywhere. It would impact the airport gates & metro gates.

      • Clear on 14/09/2022 - 17:40

        Thats assuming Cubic who manage Opal will take the servers offline. Not the station workers.

    • Lovemydeals on 14/09/2022 - 17:24

      You can ask them
      https://www.twitter.com/airportlinkinfo

    • adamjb007 on 15/09/2022 - 12:32
      +1

      for international just walk from wolli creek, takes about 20 mins,

      for domestic walk from mascot, takes about 16 mins

      there's also a bus service that's cheap

  • Imposter on 14/09/2022 - 15:16
    +3

    Thanks OP, bought one Opal Reader

    • xoom on 14/09/2022 - 15:17
      +1

      Im buying 10.

      • Imposter on 14/09/2022 - 15:18

        I guess you are opening one train station

    • easternculture on 14/09/2022 - 15:19
      +1

      I bought a whole train

  • hsp on 14/09/2022 - 15:18

    Might be a stupid question but does this also include the Sydney Metro?

    • GG57 on 14/09/2022 - 15:24

      I don't think it is clear what is included and what is excluded.

    • Clear on 14/09/2022 - 15:24

      Nah. Different company and EBA. Sucks if you need to tap off at a non-Metro station. You'll have to ring Opal for a fare adjustment.

    • Lovemydeals on 14/09/2022 - 17:20

      Most likely yes as using similar Opal readers.

  • George Washington on 14/09/2022 - 15:30
    +4

    Perfect i prefer this over strikes

    Deflation over the regular inflation doom and gloom

  • browser on 14/09/2022 - 15:32

    This is such a tricky situation. Do they have the authority to turn off the readers?

    I guess they can power off the gates for safety/evacuation reasons, the readers would have no power to run.

    But what about those pillar readers? Can they legitimately turn them off?

    If some pillar readers are working, are passengers expected to tap on/off, but what if the other side doesn't have pillar readers?

    • Lovemydeals on 14/09/2022 - 17:27

      I've seen the maintenance guys at stations turn them off all the time. Can't be too hard.

      But they wear a different uniform?

  • Rated3 on 14/09/2022 - 15:37

    "Premier may try various tactics to turn machines on"

    So I have to check if it works before boarding a train? I've seen the barriers down but still see transport officers checking tickets.

    • stigsphilocousin on 14/09/2022 - 15:58

      One of those tactics could be the govt running to Fair Work to seek an injunction due to economic considerations (running the line that physically disabling the system can be deemed to be sabotage) and if they win it, the union has to appeal it or take it on the chin and count it as a loss.

      Otherwise, any other tactics will involve manpower as any software-based workarounds may be impossible given the time period (a week from today) so it could range from managers being directed to reverse any attempts to shut down the system to technicians being sent to lock the circuit breaker panels for the system at each station to whatever else they can think of.

  • Dealor on 14/09/2022 - 15:39
    +1

    let'em fight

  • Fesnyng on 14/09/2022 - 15:39
    +5

    Its hard to be sympathetic with the union when their strikes primarily affect the middle to lower socioeconomic quartiles while politicians remain relatively unfazed. Even this new initiative will only result in higher prices in the long run for those regularly using trains.

    Also hopefully the trains will actually be running as promised during this period. I'm also all for safety on the new trains, but its equally unsafe, if not even more unsafe to overcrowd/shut down the public transport system regularly, especially when it occurred during the mass flooding earlier this year.

  • alucardoceanic on 14/09/2022 - 15:42
    +3

    Please remain vigilant as the NSW Premier may try various tactics to turn machines on.

    I love that last line, as if to say the premier will be hiding around the corner to catch people not tapping on.

    • xoom on 14/09/2022 - 15:44

      Just getting this image of the premier wielding those nfc opal card readers.

  • Daz91 on 14/09/2022 - 16:07
    -5

    Can we please criminalise unions already?

    • StarPlatinum on 14/09/2022 - 16:33
      +7

      Unions are the only reason we have good working conditions and pay, penalty rates etc. Criminalising them only hurts yourself

      • Juice-Wa on 15/09/2022 - 10:42

        That would be fair work my dude

        • StarPlatinum on 15/09/2022 - 10:43

          Unions do it too

          • Juice-Wa on 15/09/2022 - 10:45
            +1

            @StarPlatinum: Most people aren't in the union. Doesn't benefit the majority, actually inconveniences the majority. Fair work applies working conditions, pay and penalty rates to all. Unions aren't needed anymore

  • CyberMurning on 14/09/2022 - 16:29
    -2

    hope they sack everyone who join the strike demanding payrise.
    if you are not happy with your pay then go try find a better job

  • duluxe2000 on 14/09/2022 - 16:36
    +1

    I don't understand what unions can and/or cannot do ? I understand they can strike (not going to work) but turning off something they do not own, is it even legal ?

    • DealBreaker87 on 15/09/2022 - 14:23

      every action has to be approved by fair work, otherwise it would be illegal, so everything you have seen happen has been legally protected and approved by fairwork.

  • bigbadboogieman on 14/09/2022 - 16:39
    +2

    Here I am where my employer (while making billions in profits last year) didn't even inflation adjust our pay and we are still working. Corporate sector, basic IT role, not a high paying job.

    • GG57 on 14/09/2022 - 16:44
      +1

      Is that even comparable? I assume you are employed under a direct contract or terms of employment without union representation?

      • bigbadboogieman on 14/09/2022 - 17:01
        +3

        Yeah it's not comparable. Couldn't vent out directly to my supervisor. Had to do it somewhere to feel just a little better. Please don't ruin it.

        This strike might just save me a few dollars while travelling to the city for work.

    • co doonunda on 14/09/2022 - 16:48
      +1

      Stop Dom can only get so hard

    • kenplho on 14/09/2022 - 17:11
      +1

      Have you tried turning off all their IT systems and seeing if they'll give you a raise?

  • node modules on 14/09/2022 - 16:41

    will there be any enforcement by popo or transport officers?

    • Lovemydeals on 14/09/2022 - 17:31

      Can't be enforced. Take a photo of gates/poles down if you are unlucky to be stopped. Or just say "really?!"

      Can they really fine EVERYONE from multiple trains/buses going into & out of every station on the network.

      • vinnychase on 14/09/2022 - 23:08

        They don’t need to fine EVERYONE. They fine a few. Everyone else will fall in line.
        Law of the jungle.

  • naruto128 on 14/09/2022 - 16:50
    +5

    Gonna apply as train driver and get paid up to 130k pa, five weeks of annual leave per year and free travel across NSW public transport -
    https://www.seek.com.au/job/58415762?cid=SKL-CareerGuide

    • I Smell Pennies on 14/09/2022 - 17:15

      My dream career

    • Vote for Pedro on 14/09/2022 - 18:08
      +1

      You should. As should we all. Great conditions. Crappy hours though.

    • CyberMurning on 14/09/2022 - 18:38
      -1

      And entitle to strike whenever union calls

    • easternculture on 14/09/2022 - 19:01

      Just dont do burnouts

    • Topdog on 15/09/2022 - 06:20

      100 hour weeks. You can keep the 130 P.A even with the overtime it's not worth it. Maybe if your lonely

    • Juice-Wa on 15/09/2022 - 10:53

      Yo that's the pay for a trainee driver too, like no qualifications or anything, damn!

      They all love working overtime too so they get bulk penalties working extra hours, especially since their base hours are the equivalent of 35 hour weeks. Anything over is a premium!

  • PeeDee on 14/09/2022 - 17:11
    -1

    Hahaha they thought opening the gates will hesitate the gov but the people are still complying to tap their cards.
    These unions should stop whining and stay in their position. Gov should take them to court to settle the dispute.

    • Iwantthatbargain on 14/09/2022 - 17:56

      They are not just opening the gate but turning off the opal reader.

    • Vote for Pedro on 14/09/2022 - 18:05
      +5

      The government took them to court and lost.

  • bargainatoraah on 14/09/2022 - 17:12
    -7

    Bit of a joke what this union is doing, taxpayers ultimately pay for it

    • fusion17 on 14/09/2022 - 17:22
      +6

      prefer to pay for this than plum jobs, paying people to quietly leave plum jobs, NY penthouses and investment properties.
      Least i'll get something out of it, even if just the amusement of watching the premier squirm.

      • fusion17 on 19/09/2022 - 13:57
        -1

        Public servant Amy Brown sacked over hiring process that led to John Barilaro’s New York trade role
        Former head of Investment NSW set to receive 12 months’ salary after being terminated from high-profile job.
        Earlier this month Coutts-Trotter revealed he was considering firing Brown after forming a “preliminary view” that she had “not satisfactorily performed” her role during the process that led to Barilaro’s appointment to the job.
        It was “a question of poor performance and not misconduct”, he told a budget estimates hearing.

        Yup Just quietly accept that you did a poor job and it wasn't corruption from all of us and we'll pay you a years salary!

  • I Smell Pennies on 14/09/2022 - 17:16

    It’s ok guys I have a lightsaber to fight them

    • kenplho on 14/09/2022 - 17:18

      Dammit OOS

  • foggy10 on 14/09/2022 - 17:35
    +6

    Doesn't the tax payer ultimately pay for this? Does the Gov still has to pay wages for rail staff even while they are on strike? This will just increase the financial debt of the state, leaving less to pay for other programs, just so that union employees can get an additional 0.5% payrise per year. I don't know about others, but I do not get automatic pay rises each and every year.

  • heyimsu on 14/09/2022 - 17:43
    +5

    I work in the railway industry, these guys get paid very well, more than the staff in the technical and professional stream. RTBU are a bunch of pigs.

    • Vote for Pedro on 14/09/2022 - 18:03
      +2

      I think that’s on the offensive side.

      When government employees get a good deal, it brings up wages for the rest of us. Of course government workers are well paid. And good on them - that’s what happens when you have strong unions and a density of members. Perhaps if places we worked had such density, we’d also get a better deal.

      Additionally, the unions have 100% complied with the law that was in place when this started (ScoMo was in charge). The Government took them to court to stop the industrial action and lost.

      • Juice-Wa on 15/09/2022 - 11:10
        +1

        Actually the fair work act was created under a union government (K Rudd, 2009), which I think is a great system. However, fair work should have effectively removed the need for unions, but in acknowledging this, was put in place with protections for the union. So it's an uphill battle to fight an orginisation who is specifically protected by laws which were created by itself.

        • Vote for Pedro on 15/09/2022 - 16:24
          +1

          Lol what. Tell me exactly how it ‘protects’ unions.

          In a perfect world, you are right, there shouldn’t be a need for unions. Unfortunately it wasn’t Bosses that willingly gave us weekends or shift penalties, safety at work and protection from unfair treatment, it was unions. All of this is still needed today because except for a few good employers, the rest would likely put profits ahead of people.

          Just take a look at non unionised workplaces in the USA. Walmart workers have to rely on food stamps or Amazon workers piss in bottles to meet their targets.

  • Iwantthatbargain on 14/09/2022 - 17:55
    +4

    They should fire all the existing workers and hire new staffs.

    • Topdog on 15/09/2022 - 06:18

      I think they were protected under some law

  • Vote for Pedro on 14/09/2022 - 17:59
    +3

    Good on ‘em. I’ve been watching this one. They’ve followed the law and complied with all the rules. Even when the government took them to court the government lost, chucked a tanty and threatened to tear up their agreement so the union took them to court about the way they are behaving. Wasn’t the case on today?

  • zzzsianzzz on 14/09/2022 - 18:00
    +2

    very hard, metro is driverless, other countries are safe, and they have bullet trains.. they getting paid more for faster trains and on time schedules, not strikes? lol..

    making news for labor party next year.. conspiracy theory on timings.

    senseless strikes to rob government.. train drivers earn 150k,200k with overtime from news i see..

    • kev98 on 14/09/2022 - 21:43
      -1

      Metro network designed to be driverless - screening on platforms, far more cctv, etc

      Pay rise not just for train drivers but also for station staff who are not on anywhere near 200k

  • HappyPants on 14/09/2022 - 18:32
    +1

    Hopefully it includes the airport line!

    • xoom on 14/09/2022 - 22:40

      Wishful thinking. So not going to happen.

      • tallkid123 on 15/09/2022 - 10:08

        Don't say that!

        I need to take the train to the airport next Wednesday. :(

    • spamus on 15/09/2022 - 10:22

      Airport line stations are run by a separate company, so pretty unlikely.

      • Littlevu on 15/09/2022 - 11:50

        Years ago there was a loophole with the airport stop. Ppl just needed the minimum to tap on and you could exit the airport with a negative balance on the card. So ppl just picked up a new free Opal to top up.

        Not sure if loophole is still there.

        • spamus on 15/09/2022 - 12:44
          +1

          That was blocked, they have top up machines inside the paid area and you can't exit unless you have enough balance.

  • rye on 14/09/2022 - 18:35

    I better be compensated if i don’t get this offer

  • life is suffering on 14/09/2022 - 18:38

    Company that built this will get paid regardless. Millions of tax payer dollar down the drain.

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