Victoria’s regional rail network will be at a standstill on the eve of the Labor Day long weekend as workers walk off the job for 13 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Authorised officers, customer service staff, conductors and train controllers will stop work between 3am and 4pm on Friday, March 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s a major escalation in a long-running dispute between rail operator V\/Line and the Rail, Tram and Bus union over a new enterprise agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The union claims it received a “sub standard” offer on Friday, sparking what will be the seventh strike this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Branch Secretary Vik Sharma claimed Victoria’s public sector wages policy, which caps salary increases at three per cent, is being used to “hold back” V\/Line employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Regional workers and their communities deserve to be treated with respect, but instead they are being treated like second class citizens,” Mr Sharma said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“While the Allan state government continues to play puppet master, V\/Line need to get serious at the bargaining table to resolve this dispute.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The union says the main sticking points include boosting wages in line with inflation and conditions such as shift length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
V\/Line chief executive Matt Carrick labelled the upcoming strike as “totally unnecessary and very disappointing” as he urged the union to continue negotiations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“V\/Line has put a strong offer that involves major pay increases and also greater guarantees around job security,” Mr Carrick told reporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We’re working really hard to address union concerns, it’s now time for the union to negotiate in good faith, make compromises and stop the strike.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He warned of major disruptions on March 8 as there is traditionally an “upsurge” in people using the regional network before long weekends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the disruption was “incredibly disappointing” for passengers as she urged V\/Line and the union to continue negotiations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The offer that’s been put does go to provide significant support for our hard working V\/Line team and I would urge the union particularly to stay at the negotiating table to have these matters resolved.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Train drivers are not part of the strike.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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