Post by ferryfast admin on Mar 20, 2006 23:29:43 GMT -5
Ferry staff ordered back to work
By Dylan Welch
March 21, 2006 - 1:11PM
Sydney's 31 ferries should be back in operation for the evening peak hour rush following a snap strike this morning.
Peak hour traffic was thrown into chaos in parts of Sydney this morning as 38,000 ferry commuters were forced onto buses as a result of a pay dispute between Sydney ferry captains and management.
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission ordered the striking staff to return to work by 1.30pm (AEDT), and directed them not to take any industrial action over the next two weeks.
Michael Fleming, a spokesman for the Australian Martime Officer's Union, said he was "not surprised" at the outcome of this afternoon's AIRC hearing.
"I would expect that there will be normal services this afternoon," he said after the hearing. "I'm going now to speak to my colleagues and we'll be issuing a statement in an hour's time."
Sydney Ferries staff began the snap strike at 5am (AEDT) today. The action was prompted by an impasse in negotiations for an enterprise bargaining agreement.
Mr Fleming defended this morning's strike as "appropriate" in the circumstances.
However AIRC Commissioner Frank Raffaelli said the dispute was "eminently able to be resolved".
Sydney's ferries were left sitting in the docks during the morning peak, causing thousands of commuters to take their cars or ride the bus to work, resulting in serious traffic congestion on the city's roads.
"We had heavier than normal traffic this morning in points affected by the ferry strike - the Spit Bridge, Military Road and through to the Harbour Bridge," RTA Traffic Information Manager Ken Boys said this morning.
"We've put it down to the ferry strike - it put a lot of extra buses on the road from Manly and other ferry commuters possibly went by private vehicle.
The last-minute strike by ferry workers was "irresponsible and inconsiderate behaviour", NSW Transport Minister John Watkins said this afternoon.
"It is irresponsible and inconsiderate behaviour to subject people wanting to get to work to such a late notice [of strike action]," he told reporters.
"We didn't have notice and were unable to give proper notice to commuters."
However, the NSW Opposition criticised the government for not warning commuters about the possibility of a strike.
"If John Watkins had been putting the interests of commuters first, there would have been notifications out yesterday afternoon and last night saying there was the possibility of a strike this morning," said Opposition transport spokesman Barry O'Farrell.
"If they'd put the commuters first it would have reduced the chaos and confusion this morning."
Mr O'Farrell congratulated the AIRC on its decision to order those on strike to return to work.
"The news from the industrial commission is good news," he said
By Dylan Welch
March 21, 2006 - 1:11PM
Sydney's 31 ferries should be back in operation for the evening peak hour rush following a snap strike this morning.
Peak hour traffic was thrown into chaos in parts of Sydney this morning as 38,000 ferry commuters were forced onto buses as a result of a pay dispute between Sydney ferry captains and management.
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission ordered the striking staff to return to work by 1.30pm (AEDT), and directed them not to take any industrial action over the next two weeks.
Michael Fleming, a spokesman for the Australian Martime Officer's Union, said he was "not surprised" at the outcome of this afternoon's AIRC hearing.
"I would expect that there will be normal services this afternoon," he said after the hearing. "I'm going now to speak to my colleagues and we'll be issuing a statement in an hour's time."
Sydney Ferries staff began the snap strike at 5am (AEDT) today. The action was prompted by an impasse in negotiations for an enterprise bargaining agreement.
Mr Fleming defended this morning's strike as "appropriate" in the circumstances.
However AIRC Commissioner Frank Raffaelli said the dispute was "eminently able to be resolved".
Sydney's ferries were left sitting in the docks during the morning peak, causing thousands of commuters to take their cars or ride the bus to work, resulting in serious traffic congestion on the city's roads.
"We had heavier than normal traffic this morning in points affected by the ferry strike - the Spit Bridge, Military Road and through to the Harbour Bridge," RTA Traffic Information Manager Ken Boys said this morning.
"We've put it down to the ferry strike - it put a lot of extra buses on the road from Manly and other ferry commuters possibly went by private vehicle.
The last-minute strike by ferry workers was "irresponsible and inconsiderate behaviour", NSW Transport Minister John Watkins said this afternoon.
"It is irresponsible and inconsiderate behaviour to subject people wanting to get to work to such a late notice [of strike action]," he told reporters.
"We didn't have notice and were unable to give proper notice to commuters."
However, the NSW Opposition criticised the government for not warning commuters about the possibility of a strike.
"If John Watkins had been putting the interests of commuters first, there would have been notifications out yesterday afternoon and last night saying there was the possibility of a strike this morning," said Opposition transport spokesman Barry O'Farrell.
"If they'd put the commuters first it would have reduced the chaos and confusion this morning."
Mr O'Farrell congratulated the AIRC on its decision to order those on strike to return to work.
"The news from the industrial commission is good news," he said