Mobile speed camera operators to strike for 24 hours in Victoria

Hundreds of mobile speed camera operators are gearing up to walk off the job amid an ongoing pay dispute.

Hundreds of mobile speed camera operators will walk off the job in Victoria over the weekend in a second protest against ongoing pay and safety issues.

More than 200 operators will strike for 24 hours on Sunday in response to a long-running dispute between the Community and Public Sector Union and their employer Serco.

In a statement on Friday the CPSU said workers will “protest Serco’s failure to resolve the safety and pay concerns”.

“Serco has snubbed the solutions put forward by Fair Work despite requesting Fair Work assistance to help in finding a settlement.”

200 mobile speed camera operators will strike for 24 hours on Sunday. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

It said it had rejected a wage offer “which turned out to be the same amount overall, just re-mixed”.

“Serco wants to be judge, jury, and executioner leaving employees vulnerable without an independent umpire for transparent resolution of their grievances,” it said.

“Serco still remains silent on operator suggestions for safety improvements while at work.

“Serco is just thumbing their nose at the State Government, the industrial umpire, and its own workforce, as it refuses to move on any key matters.”

The strike comes after operators walked off the job for 24 hours in January.

Days later, shocking footage was released of a mobile speed camera being attacked by rocks and a wheelie bin by a group of men in central Melbourne.

Images of the car after it was vandalised showed its front windscreen smashed and back windscreen busted in.

CPSU warned more stoppages are planned.

Serco responds to critics

In a statement to news.com.au, Serco said it was making attempts to resolve the issue with the help of Fair Work.

“As we have seen with previous strikes we want to make it clear that mobile road safety cameras are continuing to operate around the state to ensure the safety of the community,” a spokesperson said.

“We respect the right of employees to take industrial action. Serco remains committed to negotiating an agreement for all Traffic Camera Services employees, and we continue to do so in good faith.

“We have made changes to a number of clauses with positive feedback from unions throughout the process and we have now presented the union with two wage offers.

In the two weeks since Serco sought the assistance of the Fair Work Commission to resolve this matter, we have taken onboard feedback and made a new wage offer to Mobile Road Safety Camera Operators. This new offer includes a CPI increase of 5.5 per cent in the first year (which exceeds the Victorian CPI of 3.5 per cent).

“We had previously offered to back pay employee allowances, including proposed new Mobile Road Safety Camera Operator and Operational Centre weekend loading of 20 per cent, from November 13, 2023. The offer was conditional on a ‘yes’ vote from employees.”

When approached by news.com.au for comment, the Department of Justice and Community Safety said the industrial action was “a matter for Serco and the involved unions”.

“Victoria’s road safety camera program plays a critical role in changing driver behaviour, preventing road trauma and reducing the number of lives lost on our roads,” a spokesperson said.

“We expect that any protected action does not endanger community safety.

“The government will monitor the impact of any industrial action as the parties work towards reaching a resolution.”

Originally published as Mobile speed camera operators to strike for 24 hours in Victoria