Close of business: NSW government gives rail union deadline to end industrial action

The New South Wales government will seek to terminate the enterprise agreement of thousands of rail workers and scrap a deal to modify a multi-billion dollar fleet of trains unless the union agrees to end all industrial action by 5pm Friday.

In a dramatic step that could set the stage for a prolonged court battle, the government wrote to the head of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU), Alex Claassens, and threatened to file an application with the Fair Work Commission to terminate the agreement.

The Guardian understands it is those actions that would trigger the application.

Claassens would not rule out new action, saying it would be up to union delegates.

But the letter caught union officials off guard.

Perrottet had said the government would seek termination orders if the union engaged in any new action, such as the strike that crippled the network on Wednesday.