SYDNEY business owners are begging rail unions to call off their rolling strikes as the CBD still struggles to bounce back from lockdowns.

York Lane bar and cafe owner Dieter Steinbusch’s business relies on office workers who he says will make any excuse to not come into the city – and customer numbers dwindle to just 50 per cent on strike days.

“I feel it straight away as soon as the media put out a thing saying there will be ­issues … the people come up with any excuse not to come to work,” he said.

“As a business owner who risks everything and puts everything on the line it’s frustrating to see these strikes.”

The Rail, Train and Bus Union will strike August 10, 17, 23 and 25 in a different area of Sydney each day, with a month packed with industrial action. Cleaners will also stop using vacuums and station staff will leave all gates open.

Business Sydney director Paul Nicolaou said the strikes were sending the city back to the Covid ages. “We have been trying for months to attract staff back but these ongoing train disruptions are setting our economic recovery back two steps every time we take a step forward,” he said.

RTBU Secretary Alex Claassens hit out at claims the strikes impacted businesses.