RTBU to shut down tram network during busy Australian Open Days
Melbourne’s tram network will be crippled once again as drivers walk off the job amid a bitter industrial dispute, with Australian Open fans to be stranded on some of the event’s busiest days.
VIC News
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Tram strikes will leave Australian Open fans stranded on some of the event’s busiest days after the state’s public transport union vowed to walk off the job again over a pay dispute.
Drivers and other operational staff will stop work from 10am to 2pm on January 28 and January 30 as thousands of people flock to the event’s quarter and semi finals.
Operators usually put on extra services around Melbourne Park to cope with demand from crowds heading to the tennis.
But the Rail, Tram and Bus Union will grind the network to a halt on these days as it remains locked in a tense battle with Yarra Trams over a new enterprise agreement.
Strike action will impact services from as early as 9am, with the operator required to make sure all trams are safely within a depot before the strike starts.
The union has pushed for a 6 per cent increase, year on year, but is also adamant it will not accept the company’s push to allow for more part-time rostering.
RTBU state secretary Luba Grigorovitch said negotiations on a new agreement were now seven months overdue.
“The RTBU has shown as much restraint as it can,” she said.
“We have not taken industrial action for two months because we did not want to inconvenience the public over the past month, however Yarra Trams has now left us no choice.
“This week they repackaged the same part-time proposal that was overwhelmingly rejected by the workforce.”
It is understood parts of the V/Line network could also be hit with industrial action this month.
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Ms Grigorovitch again called on the government to intervene in the dispute.
“We don’t expect much from the minister but we expect assistance in finding resolution when a multinational company who is profiting from Victorian taxpayers is trying to rip off workers,” she said.
“This government chose to give our tram network to this French owned company, now when all isn’t going to plan they are nowhere to be seen – the buck must stop somewhere.
“Yarra Trams’ plans to slash its employees’ working conditions and have left the RTBU with no choice other than to ramp up industrial action to protect its members’ wages and job security.”
A Yarra Trams spokeswoman said the company shared the frustration of passengers.
“The RTBU has chosen to cause unnecessary disruption to Melburnians during the Australian Open, rather than work to reach an agreement with us,” she said.
“We are working with the Department of Transport and the Australian Open to reduce the impact as best we can and will keep passengers informed.”
A governman spokeswoman said:
“This is an incredibly disappointing decision, especially during our major events season.
“There is still time for the parties to resolve this without impacting Victorians who rely on these services to get them where they need to go.”