Australia - Rail union backs down on Pope strike

[John Ashworth]

Rail union backs down on Pope strike
Posted Tue Jul 8, 2008 6:07pm AEST
Updated Tue Jul 8, 2008 6:17pm AEST
ABC News

New South Wales's Rail, Tram and Bus Union has called off a rail strike which threatened to throw next week's World Youth Day event into chaos.

The decision to cancel the strike came after a three-hour meeting with the state Transport Minister, John Watkins.

Rail workers were planning to strike over the Government's 2.5 per cent capped pay rise offer on Pope Benedict's busiest day during the World Youth Day event.

Up to 750,000 Sydneysiders and Catholic pilgrims could have been stranded during the Pope's official welcome to Sydney.

John Robertson from Unions NSW says during the meeting the Government agreed to drop its proposal to slash around 400 jobs, in exchange for a pay increase for rail workers.

"The workers have had a win, the commuters have had a win and I think that is good," he said.

"Now we need to go forward in the spirit that was in that room."

Both Mr Robertson and Mr Watkins described the meeting as constructive.

"This disagreement was always going to be resolved by sensible people sitting down and resolving it," Mr Watkins said.

"There is a position that has been put forward by the Minister that will allow the blockages to be removed that have been there for some time in the discussions with Railcorp," Mr Robertson said.

Wage negotiations between the two parties will continue tomorrow.

Pope Benedict is due to arrive at Barangaroo next Thursday by what organisers call a papal "boatacade", before giving a Mass and touring Sydney's CBD.

Transport preparations for the influx of pilgrims began 18 months ago but the State Government had no contingency plans to deal with the action.

Many roads in the city will be closed for the event and organisers are counting on the rail system to carry the extra load.

Commuter chaos at the height of the Pope's visit is the last thing the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, would like to see.

"I hope that good commonsense prevails," he said earlier today.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said earlier the rail union should remember Pope Benedict is a welcome guest.

"Australia is honoured to have the Holy Father with us," he said.

"All of Australia, including those in this particular union, I believe, should treat him with respect."