Tram strike Melbourne: Plans to reduce public transport chaos as union rejects 12 per cent pay rise

Melbourne’s entire tram network will be shut down for hours this week after the RTBU confirmed it will take industrial action over a sour pay deal. Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning on catching a tram.

Buses will start replacing trams from 9am on Friday due to a union strike that operators have described as “totally unnecessary”.

And tourism-friendly City Circle trams won’t be running until the end of the week due to other Rail, Tram and Bus Union work bans.

Negotiations between Yarra Trams and the RTBU for a new workplace deal continued yesterday, but an impasse over pay and part-time work remains.

Melbourne’s tram network will not be operating for four hours on Friday. Picture: George Salpigtidis

The union has planned industrial action between 10am-2pm strike on Friday, and is now flagging further action unless expensive demands are met.

Yarra Trams chief executive Nicolas Gindt told the Herald Sun that “industrial action is totally unnecessary and we are disappointed the RTBU has taken this step”.

He said a bid to alter a 4 per cent cap on part-time jobs — the only such limit among public transport operations — would boost diversity.

“Yarra Trams wants to be a leader in breaking down barriers to enable a truly diverse and inclusive workforce, which reflects the community we serve,” Mr Gindt said.

“We share our passengers’ frustration that services will be disrupted (on Friday). We will work to reduce the impact of this disruption as best we can and will keep passengers informed so they can plan their journey.”

A map showing where buses will replace trams during planned industrial action in Melbourne on August 30, 2019.

Buses will replace trams every 20 or 30 minutes along most key tram lines. The first services will start to be affected from about 9am due to the need to move trams to depots.

Under Yarra Trams’ plan to boost part-time options in the new workplace deal, there would be a guarantee that no current staff member would be forced out of full-time jobs.

There would also be a sign-on bonus would be added to the 12 per cent pay rise over four years — 4 per cent more than the Andrews Government’s public sector wages cap.

Victorian Branch Secretary of the RTBU, Luba Grigorovitch. Picture: AAP.

State secretary of the RTBU, Luba Grigorovitch, accused the company of “trying to scare our members out of taking industrial action” and attacked the bid to increase part-time options.

“If we don’t reach agreement after this Friday further protected action could be on the table,” she said.

Meanwhile, more public transport pain is expected this weekend when the city is hit by major rail shutdowns, aimed at squeezing in upgrade works before AFL footy finals begin.

Most lines in the southeast will be impacted along with the Sunbury, Upfield, Werribee and Williamstown lines.

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