Also every year pay has been below CPI is a pay cut, which needs to be made up for.

Your pay rate is based on what the market will pay not some sort of CPI index that needs to be made up for every few years in negotiations with a union that go bad and hurt the public

That’s the negotiating position, what they accept will be less.

I’ve seen their demands here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-20/nsw-train-strike-sydney-union-demands-pay-rise-government/104622866

A 32 per cent pay rise over four years or an 8 per cent annual increase has been called for.

When it comes to super, the union wants an additional 1 per cent employer superannuation contribution, and for super to be payable on all hours worked and while on parental leave or workers compensation.

Training allowances have been requested, as well as meal allowances for call outs.

Where wages and allowances — including penalty rates — are not paid correctly or on time, the RTBU wants a penalty to be paid to the employee by the employer.

A 35-hour work week without a reduction in weekly remuneration is also on the cards.

Flexible work is another core focus. The union said provisions must not be unreasonably refused.

Where an application is refused, they said there must be a written explanation provided and an appeal process managed and administered by the employing agency. This includes decisions on hybrid working and mandated days in office.

Workers should have all overtime paid as double time, the claim said. Overtime should be paid on the day too. The final major demand is centred on leave.

The RTBU wants annual leave increased to five weeks for non-shift workers and six weeks for shift workers.

They said long service leave needs to be available after seven years, and five years for pro rata on retirement.

Plus, employees undergoing fertility treatment need to be entitled to one day of paid leave for each occasion of appointments associated with fertility treatment.

Quite frankly, ridiculous!