Rail strike impacts Oz

Following almost 12 months of negotiations with Australia’s largest private rail freight company, Pacific National, more than 800 haulage train drivers went on strike for 48 hours over a dispute about a new three year enterprise agreement for its workers.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) picketed the company’s facilities in the Hunter Valley and South Coast in the state of New South Wales (NSW) after it slashed its offer of a 4% annual pay increase to 3%.

Asciano, Pacific National’s parent company, confirmed last week that as a result of the protected industrial action, it would be unable to load, haul and unload its coat trains in the NSW region, preventing at least 600,000 tonnes of coal from reaching the port. According to the company, these exports are worth an estimated AUS$50m to the NSW economy and approximately AUS$3.91m per day in royalties to the NSW Government.

Port Kembla coal terminal, the fourth largest in NSW is also said to have been affected by the strike, which ended on Sunday 10 February 2013 as agreed by the union.

A spokeswoman for Asciano is said to have confirmed that the striking staff have returned to work.