In a significant win for its members, the PSA secured agreement with all unions and Transport for NSW (TfNSW) for a pay rise.

Negotiating a pay increase for members employed by TfNSW is more complicated than other parts of the Public Sector. All unions with members in that cluster need to agree on any deal.

Unions involved include the PSA, the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU), the Australian Services Union and Professionals Australia. The PSA has, by far, the largest coverage of TfNSW unions.

Even though PSA members voted to accept the pay offer, they had to wait until other unions agreed. Unions such as the RTBU initially said they did not want to agree to the deal while negotiating in the Fair Work Commission on behalf of train drivers employed under the federal industrial relations system.

However, just before the scheduled hearing in the Industrial Relations Commission in late November, all unions and TfNSW agreed via a Memorandum of Understanding to vary the Award to give effect to the same pay rises offered to most Public Sector workers.

This agreement came after negotiations between PSA General Secretary Stewart Little and other union leaders.

“Today’s agreement from all unions comes after PSA members overwhelmingly voted to accept the pay offer in October,” he said. “We thank the thousands of members who supported the campaign through signing our digital petition demanding the pay rise, and all those that have expressed their support for urgent cost-of-living relief.”