Oh, Joy: Melbourne Might Be In For A Fresh Round Of Train Strikes

Perfect. This is just perfect.

After last year’s rolling series of public transport strikes – which at best could be officially described as “an absolute fucking schmozzle” – you’d think that Metro Trains would have gotten the hint and would’ve gotten their act together to avoid a repeat in 2016.
But in slipping back into the regular routine of busying themselves by arbitrarily cancelling morning peak-hour services on a bloody whim, the operating company that controls Melbourne‘s entire train network has apparently decided to return their heads to the comforting warmth of their own butts.
More long-standing pay disputes are threatening to disrupt services throughout the Victorian capital, with maintenance workers the latest to bring their grievances to public attention.
The Rail, Tram, and Bus Union has lodged an application to the Fair Work Commission that, if carried out, would see all public transport maintenance workers enter a stop work phase that would slug Melbourne commuters hard over a period of 48 hours.
Proposed action includes work stoppages (which would severely impact regular services, if not grind them to a halt completely), as well as refusing to declare entire lines open, and bans on overtime work and roster changes.
Maintenance and infrastructure workers are gunning for the same 17% pay rise that was afforded to train drivers and ticket inspectors last year following the initial rounds of industrial action. It’s believed that Metro Trains has offered the workers a 2% hike instead.
The RTBU is incensed at the offer, as union secretary Luba Grigorovitch furiously explained thusly:

“If Metro cannot come to the table with fair and reasonable terms that our members have fought to defend for decades we will have no choice but to take industrial action.”


“Our current agreement expired on June 30 and while we have been attempting to reach an agreement with Metro, they have been dragging their feet. We are trying to get a resolution, however it’s obvious that Metro aren’t fair dinkum. Our members are not prepared to let this drag on.”

“On top of their delaying tactics, members are concerned that Metro is attempting to strip away hard won conditions such as penalty rates. The RTBU is determined to ensure this doesn’t happen and we will fight to protect and improve the conditions, safety and wages of our members.”

So there you have it, folks. More delays, cancellations, and frustrations are potentially on the horizon for Metro Trains.

Or as far as Melbourne commuters are concerned, it’ll be “regular operation.”

Source: News.com.au.
Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty.

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