Face of Nation : Melbourne’s rail network is set to grind to a halt later this month amid an escalating pay fight between the city’s train operator and Victoria’s public transport union.
Metro Trains staff plan to stop work for four hours on August 27, in retaliation for what the Rail, Tram and Bus Union says is a threat by the company to dock workers’ pay. It comes after the Federal Court on Friday ruled against the union’s plan to leave train platform barriers open during industrial action planned for the next two Mondays.
But drivers and station staff are still expected to refuse to check tickets, not do overtime, and ban last-minute schedule changes including station skipping, on August 12 and 19. Union secretary Luba Grigorovitch says Metro’s threat to dock workers’ pay for participating in the action means staff will also walk off the job between 10am and 2pm on August 27.
“In some cases they (Metro) wanted to dock their pay up to 100 per cent,” Ms Grigorovitch said. “Members are furious at that.” Metro chief executive Raymond O’Flaherty says the escalating strike action is completely unnecessary.
“Certain employees may be affected by the industrial action that’s occurring in the coming weeks. We wish we weren’t in this position,” he said. “The Fair Work (Act) has provisions in place for dealing with employee pay during protected action.”
