Rail chaos looms as V/Line workers set to strike ahead of Labour Day weekend

V/Line workers are preparing to launch a new 13-hour strike potentially throwing travel plans into chaos for the Labour Day long weekend.

Country rail passengers face travel chaos ahead of the Labour Day long weekend as V/Line workers prepare to launch a new 13-hour strike.

Fresh from rejecting a pay deal offer that included the equivalent of a 15 per cent wage rise over four years, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union has ratcheted up its war on V/Line by lodging industrial action on Friday, March 8.

That is the day before the public holiday weekend.

The network will be shut down from first trains that day until 4pm – potentially throwing travel plans into chaos ahead of the long weekend.

The strike is the lengthiest since the long-running dispute began, and comes despite a government-backed offer from V/Line that included a wage increase of almost 4 per cent every year once an allowance is added.

The action on March 8 will be the seventh strike to hit long-suffering commuters and is the first to take out almost an entire day’s operations. Picture: David Crosling

But the union told members it would also require driving 80km to sign on at some locations and 10 hour shifts at basic rates.

It described the offer – which is at the top of the state’s wages policy – as “insulting to members”.

The action on March 8 will be the seventh strike to hit long-suffering commuters and is the first to take out almost an entire day’s operations.

Previous action has disrupted morning commuters, tennis fans coming to Melbourne on country trains, and even Taylor Swift fans with concert tickets.

The afternoon peak on March 8 will be significantly affected by the action, with knock on delays likely into the evening.

The strike is the lengthiest since the long-running dispute began. Picture: David Crosling

The RTBU state secretary Vik Sharma said the action was warranted and attacked the government’s wages policy for creating “a two class transport network” due to regional and metro workers getting different offers.

“Into the ninth month of bargaining, the Allan government has endorsed a dud deal that would leave regional workers worse off than their metropolitan counterparts,” he said.

In the newsletter to members the union said negotiations had progressed but the offer was still not enough.

“While the offer starts to make incremental steps towards addressing RTBU Members’ claims, it falls short and contains significant attacks on Members rights and conditions.”

V/Line chief executive Matt Carrick said: “V/Line has put an offer to the union, which delivers improved benefits and excellent outcomes for our frontline workers”.

“The union’s action to notify us of further strikes is disappointing and this continued action will disrupt passengers that rely on V/Line services.”

“We call on the union to focus on resolving this dispute at the bargaining table.”