Important EA update

We're really pleased to advise that yesterday evening at the Fair Work Commission, we reached an in-principle agreement with the Combined Rail Unions (CRU) for the terms of a new Enterprise Agreement. We are also continuing to talk to our Independent Bargaining Representatives (IBRs) about this and on a consent arbitration on any pay rises above the minimum increases.

Importantly, as part of this in-principle agreement, each of the rail unions have agreed to cease all industrial action, effective today.

This is a really positive step forward, providing us with a clear pathway to bringing our offer to you for a vote on the new Enterprise Agreement.

The in-principle agreement includes:

  • All matters agreed to date, including all the enhanced terms and conditions that we have communicated previously
  • Minimum wage increases of:
    • 2.53% from 1 May 2022;
    • 3.03% from 1 May 2023;
    • and a one-off payment of $4,500
  • A letter of commitment regarding staffing for the Platform Train Interface and Driver Only Operations for the New Intercity train fleet for a duration of 4 years
  • A Higher Standards Cleaning Allowance of $2.25 for cleaners in section 3 of the Sydney Trains Enterprise Agreement
  • New provisions regarding rostering and risk assessment processes
  • Agreed changes to the Facilitation Clause of the new Enterprise Agreement
  • For NSW Trains, the legal Deed to make modifications to the Mariyung fleet has also been signed


As part of the in-principle agreement, we have also agreed to arbitrate on the following items following a vote of employees on the Enterprise Agreement:

  • A possible additional wage increase, to be determined by the Fair Work Commission
  • The provision of a cleaning allowance to Customer Service Attendants, to be determined by the Fair Work Commission.


We will be meeting with the CRU again next week to finalise the details of the agreed package and consider the possible timing for a vote of our staff on the new Enterprise Agreement.

While details will continue to be finalised, and some of the agreement terms listed above are currently in general terms, the agreement in-principle is moving us the right direction towards finalising a new Enterprise Agreement for our people.

Finally, we would like to acknowledge and thank you all for your resilience and ongoing support for each other and our customers over a very challenging period.

We’ll be in touch with more information soon.

Take care

Pete & Dale