Rail Workers Will Strike During Pope's Visit, Australian Says

07.07.2008 (13:45)

Rail workers will hold a 24-hour strike July 17, the day Pope Benedict XVI drives through Sydney as part of celebrations for World Youth Day, the Australian newspaper reported according to Bllomberg.

The New South Wales state branch of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) lodged an application today to carry out the stoppage that may cause commuter chaos, the newspaper reported. The labor union is in the middle of a wage dispute with the state government.

"This is not a decision taken lightly",' the Australian cited Nick Lewocki, the union's New South Wales secretary, as saying. ``It is one that shows the depth of anger and desperation our members feel.''

World Youth Day is billed as the largest youth event in the world and organizers say it will attract more overseas visitors to Sydney than the 2000 Olympic Games. The state government has advised commuters to leave their cars at home during the weeklong celebrations to reduce traffic in the city center by 30 percent.
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