00:00In the last-minute dash for a Christmas gift, a train delay is the last thing you need.
00:11I am Christmas shopping and I really wanted to get this thing for my friend, my family
00:16friend, and I couldn't get it because the shop closed.
00:20Workers from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union and other groups are taking industrial action,
00:25calling for better pay and conditions.
00:27But the state government says it can't afford to meet their demands.
00:31The stalemate has led to threats Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks could be cancelled
00:35if there aren't enough trains running on the day.
00:37What they're doing around Christmas time, New Year, it's just trying to lever the government.
00:42They wouldn't even think about doing it in June, they're doing it over Christmas, New
00:45Year.
00:46The issue will come to a head in the Fair Work Commission on Christmas Eve, when the
00:50state government attempts to halt the industrial action on economic harm and safety grounds.
00:55With the prospect of a cancelled fireworks display has the hospitality sector fired
00:59up.
01:00A number of groups lodging their own submissions against the union's industrial action.
01:04If they turn up and argue against that, how can we take them seriously at face value that
01:09they are not considering playing Russian roulette with the state's hospitality sector?
01:16Those gearing up for a busy period fear what could happen.
01:19As a working muso, I have noticed even just this last week that it's just been a bit quieter
01:23than you'd expect.
01:25We have taken bookings in good faith, we want to look after those people, we don't know
01:29whether they'll arrive and we also don't know whether our staff will be able to get to the
01:33venue to serve them if they happen to arrive.
01:36So we're exposed on a few fronts here.
01:39The RTBU and the state's transport minister were both unavailable for interview.
