Sydney Trains workers to go on 24-hour strike

Sydney Trains workers will go on strike for 24 hours as negotiations in a bitter industrial dispute deteriorated.

The strike will take place from midnight Monday January 29.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union announced the increased pressure on the government after an overwhelming response from what they say is a furious workforce.

One million passengers use the network every day.

The Union had initially announced staff would refuse to do overtime but said it was plain their membership did not think that went far enough.

"We're disappointed it has come to this, but management and the NSW Government haven’t left us with any other options," RTBU NSW Secretary Alex Claassens said.

"Workers are being stretched to capacity trying to deliver the shambolic new timetable, and now on top of this they're all being told they can't be guaranteed fair conditions and pay."

A pay dispute is at the heart of the action, with the Union wanting a 6 percent annual increase over four years.

The government has a public sector wage cap of 2.5 percent and is refusing to budge.

"We will agree to a pay rise for train drivers in accordance with the wages policy that applies to teachers, nurses, police, bus drivers and other public sector workers," NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance said.

The strike action comes after a week of chaos on the Sydney Trains network and emergency meetings about a controversial new timetable.

"This strike has nothing to do with the timetable and is entirely about a campaign for a 24 percent pay rise," Mr Constance said.

Update 24th Jan 2018: Sydney train strike will go ahead on Monday 29th January as has been voted by union members.