Public Transport NSW - Sydney -Latest Ongoing Industrial Action

HarleyQuinn888 on 16/01/2025 - 15:03

Has anyone been severely impacted by the latest "selfish" transport travesty??

It buggers my mind how they can even justify their current wages $87K-157K plus?? 127K plus to "drive" a train…really ;))

If station attendants get $87K what do they really do - clean toilets , empty bins, tell people what trains to catch? what else? because any other issues they just call the police anyways? Are they not just glorified "check out" attendants at ColesWorth??

They should be sent to asia/aftrica as a work exchange program for a few years to find out what they are getting paid, of course comparable rent and cost of living etc

Also working for the state government there are incentives eg salary sacrificing mortgages etc

If transport NSW need revenue they can charge similar to airlines eg extra cost of a seat for each luggage, 2 extra seats for bikes, extra seat for prams and trolleys and an extra seat for really big people. Get those white shirts ticket inspectors to measure the girth of the posterior of really large people, if more than 10% of standard seat size then they have to pay for 2 seats. Only allow 1 free bag as carry on….even if all this is implemented it would still be cheaper than catching Taxis and Uber etc

How come Transport QLD can actually give free fare, and Transport Victoria get 50c fares and NSW can not do this?

your thoughts…

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Comments

  • coffeeinmyveins on 16/01/2025 - 15:06
    +12

    127K plus to "drive" a train

    Tell me you don't know anything about being a train engineer without telling me.

    It's not an uber driving you to see your mother.

    f station attendants get $87K

    I just googled this and see several sources including the GOV website saying it's about $50-$60k, so I don't know what you're smoking.

    I'm guessing you're repeating a figure you saw on a news website that cherry picked an absolute upper limit salary value.

    • askbargain on 16/01/2025 - 15:14
      +16

      since when were train drivers engineers

      • Nugs on 16/01/2025 - 16:05
        +2

        Maybe when they were steam locomotives…..
        .

      • techno2000 on 16/01/2025 - 16:31
        +7

        How many of these train "engineers" have an engineering degree?I am curious…….

        • tabitha731 on 17/01/2025 - 09:52
          -2

          Very few of them have the bare minimum in education.. they just have to do. Cert lll in train driving paid for by the employer. So basically most NSW rail employees need to just have a pulse. Those who actually do the maintenance of the tracks and lines, do hold certifications such as electrical licences, but to call a train driver an engineer is a HIGE stretch! Bring on the metro trains to all the lines.

    • MrThing on 16/01/2025 - 15:55
      +10

      lol train engineer, (profanity) off bruz

      unless you do a 4 year honors course at university……you dont deserve to call yourself an engineer

      • Ozbfan on 16/01/2025 - 21:19

        What if you didn’t do honors?
        Never saw that requirement from engineers Australia.

        • CommuterPolluter on 18/01/2025 - 14:13

          They probably meant bachelors… most of the bachelors degrees now have research and design projects and give you honours subject to your final GPA

      • coffeeinmyveins on 19/01/2025 - 15:18

        unless you do a 4 year honors course at university……you dont deserve to call yourself an engineer

        Right, I'll just go tell all the software engineers I know that are earning hundreds of thousands that they can't call themselves that because MrThing says so.

        • MrThing on 19/01/2025 - 15:32

          Salary is irrelevant, people who did a tafe course are not engineers

    • Fredfloresjr on 16/01/2025 - 16:04
      +11

      Haha common bro. Stop the comparison to real Engineers. Train drivers are JUST Tafe thing, and ain't even close to real ENGINEERS.

      • lesleigh on 18/01/2025 - 16:41

        You're probably right. I've always been told it takes four engineers to make a brain.

    • yoquierotaco on 18/01/2025 - 15:17

      @coffeeinmyveins lot of sensitive engineers on this post 😂

      • coffeeinmyveins on 19/01/2025 - 15:19

        I know, right?

        Apparently it's a protected word that can't be used unless you have a PHD and do a very specific field of work according to these rocket scientists.

    • Zapwap on 18/01/2025 - 15:33
      -1

      Tell me you don't know anything about being a train driver without telling me.

    • Fredorishi on 21/01/2025 - 16:04
      +1

      Im a Station Officer in Melb and we earn more than 87k. ;)

  • OhMaJuck on 16/01/2025 - 15:07

    They think of themselves as professionals and feel they deserve recognition that reflects their career. Unlike Coles Cashier

    Bus Driver don't earn that high from my understanding 100K+ if they do overtimes and taking extra shifts.

  • Aleigh123 on 16/01/2025 - 15:13

    How come Transport QLD can actually give free fare, and Transport Victoria get 50c fares and NSW can not do this?

    First of all, that's not what they're called.
    Second, wasn't it QLD that was doing 50c fares? Last I heard, PTV was increasing fares again.

  • askbargain on 16/01/2025 - 15:13
    +2

    How come Transport QLD can actually give free fare, and Transport Victoria get 50c fares and NSW can not do this?

    it's called taxes

    • Zilch on 16/01/2025 - 20:01

      Doesn't NSW have the highest tax rate of all Australian states?

    • xdigger on 18/01/2025 - 14:00
      +1

      We don't tax mining corporates like Gina enough. Norway tax oil and gas mining at 78% , here in Australia the federal government subsidize miners instead!

      In Australia we privatised profits and socialised losses.

    • mskeggs on 16/01/2025 - 21:18
      +5

      Are you considering work as a train driver? It seems you think it is paid very we’ll for little work.

  • fantombloo on 16/01/2025 - 15:14
    +4

    Has anyone been severely impacted by the latest "selfish" transport travesty??
    It buggers my mind how they can even justify their current wages

    Have you OP?

    If so then it appears these jobs are pretty important regardless what you think. Hope your mind's okay, sounds pretty full on!

  • CheapandUsed on 16/01/2025 - 15:16

    Ray Hadley is that you? Bored of your retirement already?

  • HarleyQuinn888 on 16/01/2025 - 15:16
    -7

    I am sure Gomez Addams would drive those trains for free, he loves trains ;)

    In the end if they are not happy working in a comparably cushy job - get ANOTHER job

    • fantombloo on 16/01/2025 - 15:20
      +1

      If you're not happy with the trains and the way they're run - travel ANOTHER way.

      See how that works?

  • Protractor on 16/01/2025 - 15:18
    +1

    My thoughts? The strike is a PIA. But This is just another opportunistic political thread .They pop up at every opportunity to attack sitting ALP govts. It isn't a coincidence.
    The % of these VS any criticism of the LNP side via posts or comments is way skewed. Eve when QLD/VIC Labor govt offered free and 50 Cent options the whinges continued.

    "They should be sent to asia/aftrica as a work exchange program for a few years to find out what they are getting paid, of course comparable rent and cost of living etc"
    Lol. The old apples and pears compare. Exchange means more of the same incoming doesn't it? So no thanks.
    Maybe you should repay any and all union workplace achievements that delivered the rates you have earned over time in your working life,too?

    You have some really good ideas about how to fix things. Have you thought about a career in the advisory role in politics?
    One Nation needs some new any policies.

  • HarleyQuinn888 on 16/01/2025 - 15:19
    -5

    Well whats your solution? Mr Braniac?
    Give them all $300K base salaries?

    • askbargain on 16/01/2025 - 15:20
      +1

      get the kids working at Macca's working as traffic sign holders instead

    • Guybrush57 on 16/01/2025 - 15:46
      +1

      Who are you talking to?

      • Protractor on 16/01/2025 - 15:59
        +2

        Himself.( Mr Brainiac.) He's being facetious.

    • Emphasise on 17/01/2025 - 10:11
      +1

      Teach them how to use the reply button

  • Fredfloresjr on 16/01/2025 - 15:20
    +14

    Time to replace those with driverless trains. More Metro trains.

    • MrThing on 16/01/2025 - 15:56
      +5

      more metro plz, convert the entire sydnet trains network to metro

  • HarleyQuinn888 on 16/01/2025 - 15:21
    -3

    LOL +2

  • dylo on 16/01/2025 - 15:21
    +7

    OP sounds like they're 12 and this is a school holiday post.

    • Protractor on 16/01/2025 - 16:00

      12? Maybe in dog years

    • ihfree on 16/01/2025 - 16:14
      +1

      They likely finished year 12 and this is just another sign of our failing edukayshun system.

  • HarleyQuinn888 on 16/01/2025 - 15:23
    -2

    12 yo too busy committing crimes ;)

    • onetwothreefour on 16/01/2025 - 16:07
      +6

      Please use the reply button.

      • Protractor on 16/01/2025 - 16:24
        -1

        [ please get a grown up to show you the reply button and how it works ]

  • Russell Dupsumtucka on 16/01/2025 - 15:27
    +1

    So much for the 'lets get everyone back to the office' initiative.

  • DingoBilly on 16/01/2025 - 15:30
    +3

    My thoughts are good on them for trying for a good wage. Hope they're successful. Too many people here just get a bare minimum increase or no increase and suck it up.

    Sucks if you're impacted but that's the way it goes. People who complain about this sort of thing are usually selfish and can only think as far as how it affects them in the short term and nothing further.

  • ihfree on 16/01/2025 - 15:57
    +10

    Better tax laws for large corporations would mean more public money, which would mean better wages. The NSW government is the largest employer in the state, IIRC. We know trickle-down economics does not work, but more money for normal people should put more money into the economy.

    Another benefit of more tax money would be better education which would eventually reduce the frequency of these posts.

    • Protractor on 16/01/2025 - 16:07
      +3

      Yep it's very mega rich who are dodging the most taxes and who have the greatest influence on our govts and democracy. We are the twin of the US on that front Rinehart is interfering influencing policies (and therefore voting) here as much or more than Musk is in the USA.
      I wonder if she'll still be kissing Trumps arse if he imposes tariffs on China and they stop buying our her iron ore.
      Or will she be immune?

      BTW as Gina would know, China have already moved on securing onshore lithium resources.If they find enough medium / high grade iron ore she might be cutting back on caviar burgers.

      • ihfree on 16/01/2025 - 16:12
        +4

        National Mining Day should be mandatory watching.

        Gina complaining about taxes under the current government, praising Trump, the DOGE, a guest appearance from Dutton promising to be the resource sector's best friend. Maybe Gina will be our Elon under Dutton running our own DOGE.

        Also, nice seeing Pauline make an appearance. She also had in Thailand holiday with Gina.

        Royalties and taxation on various mining corporations are well worth learning about.

        • fantombloo on 16/01/2025 - 17:26

          National Mining Day should be mandatory watching.

          Wow! These "drill baby drill" people are next level.

    • xdigger on 18/01/2025 - 13:59

      We don't tax mining corporates like Gina enough. Norway tax oil and gas mining at 78% , here in Australia the federal government subsidize miners instead!

      In Australia we privatised profits and socialised losses.

  • Protractor on 16/01/2025 - 16:02
    -1

    Maybe it's a gravy train and only Paul Kelly has the recipe?

  • HuzzahIndeed on 16/01/2025 - 16:20
    +6

    In another 4 years the rail workers will just do the same thing again, if not before then, there needs to be a better solution. If you were to ask the majority of people I think they would say they don’t like or care about either side and are just sick of it. If only the general public could decide and vote on what they think is a fair pay increase for rail workers.

    • nobro25 on 18/01/2025 - 14:14

      Another 4 years they'll be begging to keep their jobs. In another 10 their jobs will be gone. They'll have to go back to driving a bus.

  • HarleyQuinn888 on 16/01/2025 - 17:31
    -7

    Wow so many rail "workers" on Ozbargains ;) They sound very intelligent too…with all their reply "button"

    "We apologize for the inconvenience, thank you for your patience"
    "Please stand behind the yellow line"….. Thump

    • askbargain on 16/01/2025 - 17:49
      +1

      Time for some self reflection?

    • ihfree on 16/01/2025 - 18:27
      +6

      If you can't work out reply buttons, a yellow line probably would be a challenge.

    • SpainKing on 18/01/2025 - 13:48
      +1

      So you've been told about the reply button multiple times but are still too "intelligent" to use it?

  • HarleyQuinn888 on 16/01/2025 - 18:30
    -4

    Dear Transport minister,
    Do not give in to these selfish extortionist.
    I am counting on you to privatize the rail network!

    • ihfree on 16/01/2025 - 18:36
      +10

      Be careful what you wish for. Privatised services in an area where competition isn't possible often cost more with lower quality of service.

      • ginormousgiraffe on 17/01/2025 - 08:58
        +1

        They would need to increase the costs of fares 5x just to break even, and we all know private corporations are only in it to break even…

  • HarleyQuinn888 on 16/01/2025 - 19:01
    -5

    Railway system run by the public circus ==> inefficient, costly, broken and prone to corruption and extortion on very regular basis.
    Does the minority have the right to be selfish and extort the majority?

    • Guybrush57 on 16/01/2025 - 20:46

      Keen to know why you have a vested interest in its privatisation. Be honest.

    • MrThing on 17/01/2025 - 07:29
      +2

      the problem with private, even if it could be more efficient, is the people who own or invest into it need to make a profit (thats just capitalism, cant avoid it)

      they already have said train fares only cover 25% of the running costs, so sure privatise it but expect the fares to go up like 5x what they are now to allow a profit margin

  • MS Paint on 16/01/2025 - 20:47
    +1

    salary sacrificing mortgages

    That's normally reserved for the health sector. ICBF researching if train drivers get this benefit but I highly doubt.

  • jjjaar on 16/01/2025 - 21:25
    +2

    Shift work, split shifts, told from the start how it’s not “if” but “when” you hit someone who has decided to end their own life on the tracks in front and how to react to that kind of incident (for those interested - they’re taught to look away or close the blinds as they push the brakes)…

    Yeah I wouldn’t want that job myself.

    If you’re jealous about how much they earn, go and become a train driver.

    • MrThing on 17/01/2025 - 07:31

      sounds like your describing nurses there who are paid less than train drivers already

      • jjjaar on 17/01/2025 - 18:41

        And I support all industrial action that nurses want to take, and genuinely believe they should be paid as much as train drivers.

        • MrThing on 17/01/2025 - 20:23
          +3

          more

          • jjjaar on 17/01/2025 - 20:49

            @MrThing: You’re right. More. They deal with a lot and under shit conditions.

    • HarleyQuinn888 on 17/01/2025 - 08:55

      You seem to know a lot about psychology - How often do they run over people?

  • miwahni on 16/01/2025 - 22:50
    +7

    There was a piece about this on 7.30 tonight - Laura spoke to a station attendant who is earning $55kpa and finding it hard to make ends meet living in Sydney. When you think about it, $55k gross = $46787 net and even with a modest rent of $500pw that leaves $20000pa or $400pw to eat, pay bills, maybe run a car etc. There's no fat in that budget at all. I realise there are people earning much less but this isn't a game of comparisons and that doesn't make it okay. I hope she gets the raise she's looking for.

  • someone else on 17/01/2025 - 07:43
    +1

    NSW is fkd… Worst salaries, highest cost of living, NSW government gives less benefits and bites more than every other state…

    Health workers in particular are completely disheartened, a lot of unfilled positions, which means that everyone else is overworking for a completely broken system.
    Managers are completely tone deaf and clueless, the daily answer is "we have no money". The system is completely dysfunctional.

    How can they expect people to continue to live with high inflation, increasing cost of living, when salaries have been frozen for years?

  • 82norm on 17/01/2025 - 08:05
    +1

    Anything union related, ain’t going to look good for Albo…

  • HarleyQuinn888 on 17/01/2025 - 09:05
    -5

    Do NSW transport workers get free travel? Do they get free study? what other perks do they get? I use to get almost free travel when I worked for QANTAS and study etc So I studied and got another job that I am content with both pay and conditions.
    Unfortunately the requirements for most of these public circus jobs is "just attend" and performance varies from …they still get paid the same, hence some slackers make more work for those that actually want to work..

    If they are not happy find another job, if not happy with the state move to another state…beggars can not be choosers is some cases

    If they behave and negotiate like selfish spoilt kids classsify them like extortionists and transport "terrorist"…that's what they are really doing hurting the people that originally supported them …but no more!! We all had enough…unless you are actually the instigator(s) or work for them…

    • ihfree on 17/01/2025 - 14:00
      +1

      I use to get almost free travel when I worked for QANTAS and study

      Ahh, so you had a taste of public money. Yet now you're out, you're whinging about it.

  • nswnotill on 17/01/2025 - 12:41

    It has all happened before. I remember around 40 plus years ago there were several almighty stoushes between the then government of the day and railway union boss Bernie Willingale. No winners then either.

  • LFO on 17/01/2025 - 14:33

    your thoughts…

    LOTS of government employees/management get far more money and certainly they do a lot less.
    Stress free, Responsibility free. Risk free.
    Work from home or in a comfortable, safe, secure, well provided office.
    With a comfy chair. Showers included, and perhaps a gym too.

    Yes this industrial action is justified.

  • HarleyQuinn888 on 17/01/2025 - 17:44

    In the end you are paid what you are really worth, some of these "professional vultures" can get away for some time by getting paid more than what
    they are really worth, but the general public will eventually wake up .
    Similar to relationships when they fool each other and fool themselves they end up in divorce courts, lawyers winning it all ;))
    Also they will upset "elvis" express….. “Mystery Train,” "In the Ghetto"

  • duluxe2000 on 18/01/2025 - 13:19

    From what I gather is that train drivers and train guard jobs are:
    1. No requirement of (much) qualifications
    2. Anti social lifestyle
    3. It's crucial jobs for society to function
    Their skills can't really transfer to other jobs or there are other employers to move to. Well… so their only options is to strike to get pay rise. And train union always strikes (yes especially train union among other unions) where it hurts the most, they know that some commuters blame the government, some blame them. But the one who blame them eventually will blame the government because that the only thing they have power on, so on so on …

    I don't argue about whether or not they deserve what kind of pay they should get. But I think society overall is better off with these jobs are automated. Think about it: "repeated" tasks, anti social hours, critical … no one should have to do it.

  • xdigger on 18/01/2025 - 13:55

    Can't wait for driverless trains like they do in USA and China.
    The technology is already in place. Went to China recently for a work trip and they've got driverless buses in the city. Colour me impressed.

  • Zapwap on 18/01/2025 - 15:34

    Transport Victoria get 50c fares

    What? When? Where?

  • p1 ama on 18/01/2025 - 17:12
    -1

    It buggers my mind how they can even justify their current wages $87K-157K plus??

    FWIW, I'm not advocating for starving the train drivers, but putting this salary into perspective does show that they are grossly overpaid compared to other public service professions which have significantly higher barriers to entry, required levels of qualifications, and arguably level of responsibilities.

    For example, train drivers are paid more than teachers, who are required to complete a three year bachelor's degree, followed by a two year master's degree in teaching, more than paramedics and nurses, both of which require bachelor's degrees, and arguably have higher levels of responsibilities and more grueling shift work.

    Even if you were to compare to pilot salaries, this is extremely high - for example, a First Officer with Qantas / Qantaslink can expect to start at below $100k (e.g. see https://careers.qantas.com/job/qantaslink-direct-entry-first…), with a requirement of 500 hours of flying time, which is not an insignificant level of experience. Obviously flying a jet aircraft requires a much higher level of education, ability, and responsibility than driving a train.

    • Fredorishi on 21/01/2025 - 16:01
      +1

      "Grossly over paid" Lol. What nonsense. Since when does any company grossly over pay their employees? I think you're thinking of CEOs. ;)

      500 hours of experience? A train driver would rack that up in 6 months. With sole responsibiltiy for the train and its occupants. How much do captains make?

      Instead of arguing that drivers are overpaid, how about you argue that teachers etc are UNDER paid. I have a daughter i encouraged to take up driving. She chose to be a teacher. Go figure.

  • Fredorishi on 21/01/2025 - 15:53
    +1

    Ok, so i work for Metro in Melb (not a driver) so might be a little biased, but I dont see anyone mentioning the fact that drivers operate a vehicle that contains hundreds of passengers. How many jobs involve responsibilty for that many people moving from a to b. Pilot? Ships captain? Its a lot of responsibility.

    No argument we have pretty decebt pay and conditions though. Come and join us. 😉

  • haemolysis on 30/01/2025 - 13:18
    +1

    I'm all for employees demanding higher wages as a general principle, but I think something that gets lost along the way is that state-funded industries are much more of a zero-sum game. State funds are a limited pool of mostly tax funding, which is being divvied up among your state services and other state employees. Nurses compete with train drivers, who compete with teachers, who compete with building a museum, who compete with a rate payer at home. We are all in direct competition for a limited pot which isn't really growing.

    It seems the main reason for demanding pay rises right now (across not just tfNSW) is not anything related to the job. The key reason for the demands is: inflation. Inflation is going up, ergo we want to scale with it so we are not any worse off. I empathise with working class wanting to keep their standard of living.

    But the state hasn't seen efficiency gains. If you want to simply earn more, it's coming from someone else. If train drivers don't eat the inflation, the teachers will, the nurses will, the rate payers will, or the football stadium tender is pushed back 10 years, or… some tangible sacrifice is being made. It's not quite like private industry employees generating 5X revenue for the company, and subsequently demanding a 5X pay rise because that's what they brought in. State employees haven't actually grown the pot.

    For this reason, we do need to keep salaries rational to the level of skill required, and the shortage of that skill. For train drivers that skill is 12 months training, and it is not in short supply. 30%+ payrise demand is quite extreme.

  • HarleyQuinn888 on 01/02/2025 - 07:13

    "Ideally" the share of the "pot" should trickle down from the most useful members of society to the least…
    if a process can be automated, then automate it !
    If it can be privatised…do it…before it gets any worse.
    Responsible useful productive members of society usually produce more of said offspring… but by observation mainly poorer people produce the most number of kids
    To raise a child "well" you need lots of $$$ and Time and patience, first get educated to earn the $$$, do a parenting course, get an "exam" to get parenting license, find suitable likeminded mate, then have kids… otherwise they are just bringing more of the useless lazy, selfish, non-productive members of society that just places more burden to the WHOLE of society
    We must also consider what we are going to do with the ever growing population of the elderly, sick, disabled people…the "POT" of gold is very limited (print more $$$ ;)).. that's beyond my pay grade….good luck

  • HuzzahIndeed on 06/02/2025 - 21:23
    +3

    News reporter - “Do you think you should apologise to commuters? Toby Warnes from the rail union - “No, no I don’t”. That’s why the general public that pays your wage doesn’t give 2 fooks about you Toby and how much rail workers are paid, and your overall cause you fat gronk. If the general public could vote and decide what happens in this situation instead of the unions and NSW Government squabbling, the masses would likely agree to sack you, then punch you in the face, and leave you on a deserted island to rot.

  • HarleyQuinn888 on 07/02/2025 - 08:00

    https://rtbuexpress.com.au/our-people/ - The Train Gang ;)) lol How many of these privileged actually travel with the public circus everyday ??? Or do they ride "Harleys"

  • HarleyQuinn888 on 11/02/2025 - 07:25

    https://rtbuexpress.com.au/our-people/ Looks like from the TV series "Sons of Anarchy"

  • HarleyQuinn888 on 14/02/2025 - 20:51

    Has people got use to the strike actions? OR should the they sack all workers involved, close the network for 6 months or so…:::::..:::::…..::::: re-train new staff from overseas, automate to driverless trains….and have a grand opening free burgers and chips for all :))) with the money the NSW state government will save in the long term…..choo choo

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