NSW travellers may be spared from rail disruption as workers and the government head to the workplace umpire in their long-running clash over trains.
A government deadline to abandon industrial action by 5pm on Friday was duly ignored by the Rail, Tram and Bus Union.
The union filed an application in the Fair Work Commission to get negotiations back on track, and the dispute will be heard on Tuesday.
RTBU secretary Alex Claassens said the government should not be surprised if more action is called next week but vowed to keep frustrated commuters in mind.
"The passengers are not going to feel anything for the next two weeks, but the government is going to," he said.
Industrial action will include leaving station gates open and banning fines from being issued by officers until Tuesday.
A joint statement by Transport Minister David Elliott and Employee Relations Minister Damien Tudehope on Friday evening said the union's latest move was a stalling tactic.
"The NSW government has always negotiated in good faith and made countless concessions to the unions throughout bargaining," the statement said.
"In return, the government simply expects an end to the strikes".
"It is apparent that this application to the FWC is a delaying tactic by rail unions that are adamant ... on dragging out these negotiations so that they can continue their political campaign of disruptive strikes," the ministers said.
