Melbourne construction delays expected as tipper truck drivers walking off the job

Big build projects and private housing developments across Melbourne are facing new delays as hundreds of tipper truck drivers walk off the job in the state’s latest strike action.

Victorian government Big Build projects and private housing developments are set to be hit with delays for the next week with hundreds of tipper truck drivers walking off the job in the protest for more pay.

Up to 300 drivers downed tools on Monday, parking in Epping and refusing to pick up spoil loads from sites across Melbourne.

It comes after months of wage negotiations with booking agencies have failed to broker a new pay rates.

Hundreds of tip truck drivers are set to go on protest this week. Picture: David Crosling

Victorian Tippers United spokesman Luke McCrone said the action was set to continue all week.

“We have 300 trucks here today and we expect 500 or 600 in the next few days,” he told the Herald Sun.

“We’ve been in discussions with agencies now for months to try and get them to start pricing jobs at a level where we can start running profitable businesses, but they all say we wish we could but we cant and it's a vicious cycle.

“We won’t be going back this week until the issue is dealt with.”

The strike kicked off on a rostered day off for the construction industry but was likely to cause ongoing pain in the week.

It is expected to reduce the number of drivers removing spoil from the major government projects including level crossing removals.

Housing sites will also be impacted.

Originally published as Melbourne construction delays expected as tipper truck drivers walking off the job