Liam McNally
Melton and Moorabool commuters are being warned to brace for disruptions to the V/Line network next Wednesday as workers plan to walk off the job.
The Rail, Train and Bus Union (RTBU) notified V/Line of its intention to take industrial action involving a full network closure between 3-7am on Wednesday, December 13.
V/Line said it is currently working to finalise a plan for replacement coaches and will notify passengers of these plans as soon as possible.
The industrial action will affect commuters across the network including the Ballarat and Geelong lines.
RTBU branch secretary Vik Sharma said the union is focused on minimising the impacts of industrial action on the travelling public, but make no apologies in their fight to secure decent conditions for members.
“Members are fighting for what all workers across Victoria deserve – job security and decent conditions,” he said.
“V/Line needs to stop blindly driving this corporate cowboys’ train and listen to its workers,”
Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) spokesperson Daniel Bowen said while the strike action will only last four hours, it is likely there will be disruptions throughout the rest of the morning as crews and trains will be out of position when services resume
“The stop work will have big impacts for residents in Melbourne’s west, given some areas such as Wyndham Vale, Tarneit, Caroline Springs and Deer Park rely on V/Line for their suburban train service,” he said.
V/Line chief executive officer Matt Carrick said the organisation has been negotiating with employee representatives and the union in good faith and urge the union to reconsider industrial action which could potentially disrupt tens of thousands of passengers.
“We will work hard to minimise the impacts of disruption on passengers,” he said.
Information about service changes will be published on the V/Line website, mobile app and social media, with commuters urged to check for updates before travel.
