NSW Government Ends Rail Dispute With 12% Pay Rise Deal

The NSW government and combined rail unions have reached a wage agreement, ending a prolonged and disruptive industrial dispute that has affected Sydney’s train network for nearly a year. The new enterprise agreement, facilitated by the Fair Work Commission, grants about 13,000 rail workers a 12% pay rise over three years, with back pay, and includes commitments to improved technology for incident management and safety escalation mechanisms. This resolution is a compromise between the unions' initial demand of a 32% increase over four years and the government’s original 9.5% offer, and is expected to bring much-needed relief to more than a million daily commuters who endured repeated network disruptions. While most unions have agreed to the deal, the Electrical Trades Union remains dissatisfied with one unresolved clause, which is still being considered by the commission. Transport Minister John Graham described the agreement as a 'big step forward' and a chance to reset relations, with both sides now focusing on network reliability and passenger improvements. The proposed agreement will be put to union members for a vote before final approval.