Passenger Rail, Safety, Standards & Regulation, Workforce, Certification & Training

Tensions escalate as train staff raise stakes

Melbourne train workers will strike for four hours next Friday after Metro Trains allegedly threatened to stand them down if they took part in a number of the less severe measures already planned by the Rail Tram & Bus Union.

RTBU secretary Luba Grigorovitch on Thursday, August 27 alleged the train operator had threatened to stand down union members for the days they planned to take part in industrial action next week.

The union announced earlier this week that for all of next week, its members would refuse to wear Metro Trains uniforms, and would refuse to check passengers for valid Myki tickets, along with a number of other measures including short early-morning strikes.

“Metro has threatened our members that if they take part in the partial work bans they will be refused the opportunity to perform all other work and will not be paid,” Grigorovitch alleged.

“This is a crude attempt by Metro to intimidate our members from exercising their legal rights. The bans are protected industrial action and are allowed under the Fair Work Act.”

In retaliation, the union now plans more severe action: a strike from 10am to 2pm on Friday, September 4.

“Our delegates are furious at Metro’s attempt to intimidate our members from taking industrial action that is allowed under the Fair Work Act,” Grigorovitch continued.

“Our bans next week will have limited impact on the travelling public while hitting Metro’s bottom line. Our members will continue to perform all of their duties apart from the limited bans and will be keeping the network running during this time.

“To threaten them with being stood down and not being paid for limited bans such as not wearing their uniform is heavy handed and shows the lengths Metro will go to in their attempts to stop our members from taking lawful industrial action.”

The development is part of a now five-month negotiation between the RTBU and Metro Trains – which is operated by Hong Kong-based MTR Corporation – over a new work deal.

“Metro has so far not been prepared to properly address a number of important issues such as length of the working day, overtime, rostering and disciplinary procedures,” Grigorovitch said. “If Metro is serious about reaching agreement they need to listen to our members’ concerns instead of trying to bully and intimidate them.”


Related: Tram workers to strike, train workers to go for Metro’s “hip pocket”