Sydney bus strike called off as union and government reach in-principle pay deal; Friday services to run normally

Transport for NSW said on Thursday (November 12) that the bus strike planned for Friday, November 13, in Sydney will not go ahead: the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) and the state government have reached an in-principle agreement in pay negotiations, all ongoing industrial action has been withdrawn, and bus services will run as normal.

Two stoppage windows had been planned for Friday

Under the plan announced by Transport for NSW on November 11, the union had planned to stop work in two windows on November 13 — 6:30–7:30 a.m. and 5–6 p.m. — affecting bus services in Sydney's eastern suburbs, the Northern Beaches, the Lower North Shore and the inner north-west. Intensive talks followed, and the in-principle agreement means the strike has been avoided.

Transport for NSW said buses will run to their normal timetables on Friday and passengers can travel as usual; the two sides will continue talks on the details of the pay agreement.