Metro Trains workers will refuse to check tickets on Grand Final Day, and will strike for four hours on October 1, as part of a set of industrial actions planned to take place on the Melbourne network next week.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) secretary Luba Grigorovitch announced the plans on September 23, saying negotiations over a new work agreement were not progressing as the union would like.
“We have continued to meet with the company [Metro Trains] to bargain through the parties’ claims, but Metro seems adamant about stripping away important working conditions,” Grigorovitch said.
“Metro has failed to address concerns about working conditions so our members have resolved to commence a week of industrial action on Tuesday next week, with some additional action (such as a uniform ban for drivers) to continue indefinitely.”
RTBU members will refuse to wear company uniforms all week from Tuesday, September 29.
They will hold a four-hour stop work meeting of all staff between 10am and 2pm on Thursday, October 1.
Drivers will refuse to skip stations on Friday, October 2, and will not report late running trains.
Workers will refuse to inspect myki ticketing cards on AFL Grand Final Day, October 3.
On October 4, drivers will refuse to drive trains without first checking that PA systems are operations. And on October 5, drivers will refuse to drive trains until they have checked that both headlights are working.
Grigorovitch insisted the action was aimed at hurting Metro’s hip pocket, rather than the travelling public.
“Metro’s practice of altering train timetables at the last minute and skipping stations just so that it can receive bonus payments from the government will be a target of the bans,” she said.
“These actions will send a clear message to Metro that it needs to acknowledge the contribution our members make to the company’s record profits.
“If Metro is serious about getting an agreement it needs to rethink its strategy of repackaging previous offers with minor changes in the hopes our members will be conned into accepting sweeping changes to their fundamental working conditions.”
The RTBU has represented members in recent months in a pair of disputes: one for a new work deal for Metro Trains workers, the other for a new deal for Yarra Trams workers.
Negotiations on the trams side of things appear to have improved, with the news last week the sides are closing on a mutual agreement.