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The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) has issued a furious statement, decrying ‘misinformation’ over its dispute with the NSW Government which has seen commuters in Sydney hit hard by strikes and other industrial actions.

NSW union secretary Alex Claassens said suggestions that the railway workers’ actions were political are “simply ridiculous”.

“There are reports in some media today suggesting the actions of the railway workers are purely political. That couldn’t be further from the truth,” he said.

“Railway workers have been fighting the dangerous new intercity fleet for more than six years and we will continue to fight, no matter who is in government, until we are confident that the safety of commuters will not be endangered by the fleet.

“The idea that refusing to operate trains that we know are endangering the lives of our children and other commuters could be considered a political game is simply ridiculous.”

Claassens’ statement comes after weeks of heated back-and-forth between the union and the government over industrial action that has at times crippled Sydney’s rail network.

New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet said last week that the offer to make safety changes to the new intercity fleet would be withdrawn if the union did not stop its industrial action, but has then renounced the threat.

The dispute will head to the Fair Work Commission today following a submission by the RTBU.