NSW strikes: teachers and transport unions blame government for industrial action

Unions representing New South Wales teachers and public transport workers are blaming the state government for a series of strikes taking place this week.

Thousands of commuters will have to make other travel plans as bus and train drivers take industrial action.

The strikes began on Monday with inner-west Sydney bus drivers walking off the job as part of an ongoing dispute over pay equality.

That same day, train drivers are refusing to drive foreign-made trains that run three-quarters of the services on the network.

Public school teachers and principals will go on strike too, accusing the government of failing to address unsustainable workloads, uncompetitive salaries and staff shortages.

Gavrielatos said the government was missing a coherent strategy to fill 3,000 vacant positions and recruit the 11,000 teachers the state would need in the next decade.

Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey said 1,200 bus drivers in the inner west were striking on Monday, protesting a two-tier wage system and cuts to services as a result of privatisation.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW secretary Alex Claassens said the government accepted a bid from Transit Systems that left workers at the same depots doing the same jobs but earning different amounts, which was done for profit.

The RTBU has also been negotiating a new enterprise bargaining agreement for train drivers after the old one expired in May.

The union wants an end to privatisation, safety standards maintained and a commitment to retaining current hygiene standards while not relying on contractors to provide it.

Longland said employees had been offered a 2.5% pay increase, inclusive of superannuation.

Commuters are advised to plan ahead.