Fair Work Commission orders industrial action on Sydney train network to be suspended

Sydney rail commuters will be travelling worry-free until July after the Fair Work Commission ordered industrial action on the city's train network be suspended until July.

The combined rail unions, including the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU), have been told to halt their industrial action until July 1.

The NSW government had taken the unions to the commission seeking a seek-month pause following last week's breakdown in negotiations, which led to significant disruptions on Friday.

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The newly appointed Transport Minister, John Graham, welcomed the Fair Work Commision's decision.

"This promises an end to disruptions for commuters in Sydney," Graham said.

"That's hugely welcome, this is clear air for these discussions, but most importantly it's clear air for the commuters as they move around the city, and that's what really matters here."

Graham praised the FWC for making a "lengthy determination", ordering the actions to be paused for months.

"We are relieved for Sydney's commuters, but we are resolved now to get this agreement done," Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said.

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"We asked for a cooldown, we're getting a cooldown, and we're determined now to use this cooldown to respectfully work through the remaining issues...

"Whilst it is true that the Fair Work Commission has granted what, to our knowledge, is the longest suspension of industrial action under this particular section of the act, we don't want this to linger to July, we want to get this done quick."

He said the government would return to the bargaining table in good faith.

The four-month suspension of all industrial action will act as a cooling-off period to bring hostilities down between the government and the unions.

The decision came after 862 staff members did not show up to work last Friday, plunging the rail network into chaos with over 90 per cent of services cancelled.

A text message to RTBU members was leaked to reporters on Friday morning, telling union members to members to "f--- the network up".

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The unions and the government are at loggerheads over the former's demand for a $4500 sign-on bonus for rail workers.

RBTU secretary Toby Warnes said the unions would not relent on demanding the $4500 payment, which was given to rail workers in the last enterprise bargain agreement in what the government says was a one-off.

"If Transport wants to come and take that off the table, it's up to them to come to us and ask for it," Warnes said.

Warnes said the unions were disappointed with the FWC decision but now hoped the government would take the chance to try close a deal, which he says is close.

The commission said the next step would be for the parties to resolve the dispute over the one-off payment, without causing chaos for commuters.