Sydney’s iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks display could be canceled this year due to ongoing industrial action by the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) demanding pay rises and improved working conditions. New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said she had “grave concerns” about the safety of revelers who would gather in large numbers to watch the annual spectacle. According to a report, if fireworks are canceled it could cause a loss of $98 million to the economy. Guardian,
“Leaving the city is based on access to transport, including trains, and, if trains are not available, and people cannot leave the city, I have huge concerns about the risk posed to the public, as families have won,” Ms Webb said. “They will not be able to reach home and they will be stuck in the city (they will have no way out),” he told reporters.
He said NSW Police secure the event each year on the basis that the 250,000 people who come to the city are able to leave safely.
“So I haven’t ruled out that I would recommend to the government that we cancel fireworks. That’s very serious,” Ms Webb said.
RTBU state secretary Toby Warnes did not agree with Ms Webb’s reported threat to cancel the fireworks and called it a ‘tactic’.
“Instead of attempting to resolve the dispute, the government is resorting to hysteria and intimidating the NSW public,” he said.
Transport Minister Jo Helen called on rail workers to call off the action as it would be “unbearable” on New Year’s Eve as millions of people plan to head to Sydney’s waterfront for the fireworks.
“It’s been a tough year for businesses and families, and they deserve the opportunity to come together and celebrate,” he said.
“That’s why I’m saying to the unions right now, withdraw your industrial action, because any level of disruption, disruption on our rail network is simply not tolerable.”
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‘Adequate notice period’
In a fresh statement issued on Saturday (21 December), the RTBU said the government had “provided sufficient notice periods for all industrial operations to allow alternative arrangements to be made”. However, “it was clear from the delays and cancellations that those arrangements had not been made”.
The union said there are now 25 partial work restrictions in place, as well as a walkout on part of the signaling system, and a limit imposed on the number of kilometers traveled by remaining workers.
Rail workers are demanding a 32 percent pay increase over a four-year period and a 35-hour work week.
