Government blackmail

It’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it

The blackmail that is, not being the government.

Threats to strike public transport on WYD

Last night my husband told me that train and bus worker’s plan to strike on World Youth Day if the government doesn’t do something to improve the transport system, which breaks down daily.

My first reaction was “That’s ridiculous. WYD is going to be a horrible strain on Sydney as it is, without making it more difficult.” He said that was the point, the government has paid no attention to the fact that Sydney can barely sustain itself, let alone another quarter of a million visitors. A strike needs to make a statement.

In the lead up to WYD, I had hoped that transport would actually improve. We wondered how the heck Sydney would cope during the 2000 Olympics, but not only did it cope, it improved. I’d hoped the same thing would happen. Alas, it seems to be getting worse every day and the government doesn’t plan to do anything about it, with Morris Iemma saying they won’t be blackmailed.

The threat to embarrass the state on one of the most important days in our recent history will not cut ice with the Government.

If this is one of the most important days in our recent history, why haven’t you done a damn thing to make it easier, not just on visitors, but the people that keep this city running?!

Who’s to blame

Who’s fault is the broken system anyway? Rail Corp is a private company, yet the government seems to be the ones that dictate the resources to be applied to “public” transport.

Admittedly, the state government are doing some things to improve the Sydney and greater-Sydney transport system. Or at least they’re claiming to, with an “Untangling our complicated railway system” campaign. However, that’s a long term plan, which is showing no signs of improving anything yet.

The whole thing is a shambles. Who agreed to have WYD here anyway? Why couldn’t they use Olympic Park?

In the meantime, I still have no idea how to get to work that whole week since the UNSW buses are cancelled.

Update 6:26pm: Well, it appears that the strike is off after negotiations. However, it appears that the dispute was over money. I now have a lot less sympathy for the transport union and think that Iemma might have had cause to call it blackmail. Now the people in transport are getting paid more money for doing the same, unsatisfactory job.

Update 10:58pm: Completely different, but salient point about the silly NSW government from Bruce Schneier.