Transport Minister Dean Nalder's backflip on the cancellation of late night trains may cost WA taxpayers thousands of dollars annually in extra overtime costs.
Affected customer service and ticketing staff are also upset they are now being "ordered" onto rosters and concerned that they may get the blame for the overtime hikes in the next government cost review.
Before the minister derailed the late night services, staff had "shared" the late shifts on a rotating basis and no overtime costs were incurred. Those who wanted the extra shifts simply put up their hands to do them.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union safetey organiser Linda Morich,said the new Public Transport Authority roster lost that flexibility and locked in the need to pay overtime costs.
"There's really no need to introduce the new roster now that the late services have been reinstated. They should just keep running the system that we have now and they wouldn't have to pay overtime. The system doesn't need to be fixed," she said.
"It might seem strange that a union would argue against overtime but the current system works and we don't want our members blamed for increased costs."
The PTA said that the change to the roster system was a completely separate initiative and was unrelated to the Minister's decision.
A PTA spokesperson said that the changes were coincidentally taking place within the same rostering period as the previously cancelled - but now continuing - late night services.
"Overtime will be paid as a result. Staff will have more handover time between shifts and we will be able to better meet customer needs," she said.
Any overtime paid would be funded from within the PTA's existing operational budget.
Last month, the PTA announced plans to cancel the 1am, 1.15am and 2.15am services from the city on Friday and Saturday nights due to low passenger numbers.
Mr Nalder said he initially supported the PTA's decision based on information it provided to him.
However he spent last Friday night speaking to businesses in the CBD and Northbridge before taking the Mandurah line train at 1.15am.
"These trains are used more than I first thought and I decided to overturn the decision to cancel the services," he said.
The Minister's office and the PTA have been contacted for comment.
