Catching light rail in Sydney will be made barely worthwhile unless the NSW Labor government  acquiesces to union demands for cheap fares.
Drivers will obey a 10km/h speed limit on all Sydney light rail vehicles for six days from Monday as part of escalating industrial action, the tram union said on Wednesday.
That speed limit would only be lifted if the Minns government cut passenger fares to 50 cents.
Fifty-cent fares have become a rallying cry for the union since becoming a roaring success and winning bipartisan support in Queensland.
Sydney light rail fares start at $3.20 for an adult and rise to $5.60 for trips exceeding eight kilometres.
Sydney commuters could face slow light rail trips as industrial action heats up. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)
It follows a 24-hour shutdown in June and peak-hour strikes in July as 18 months of negotiations with network operator Transdev/Greater River City stall.
"Wages and conditions are effectively going backwards while negotiations stall - instead of sending out inferior offers without consulting with the (union), Transdev/Greater River City needs to engage with its workforce and negotiate in good faith," Rail, Tram and Bus NSW divisional president Peter Grech said.
While the system was privatised by the coalition, Labor could "step in and support our fight" by cutting fares, Mr Grech said.
Transdev was contacted for comment.
It's another headache facing the Minns government after public sector surveys showed reduced morale and pay satisfaction among critical workforces.
Only one in three police and health workers said they're paid fairly for their work, declining eight points and four points on the 2023 results respectively.
Meanwhile, the number of NSW Rural Fire Service employees willing to recommend their organisation as a great place to work dropped below the midline to 44 per cent.
It comes as the police and nurses unions demand significant above-inflation rises.