Later this month, commuters may experience cancellations and delays in trams. Drivers who seek better pay, will refuse to work overtime and refuse to work on rest days. About 1,500 Yarra Trams drivers and customer service staff voted on August 26 (Monday) to launch the work ban in an effort to achieve a 6% annual salary increase in the next three years. Yarra Tram only offers a 3% salary increase.
The planned labor actions, including the ban on uniforms, will be carried out the day before the Metro Trains strike – if the parties fail to reach an agreement on the wage agreement, they will strike for four hours. In recent months, Yarra Tram has submitted two new corporate bargaining agreements to its members, but it has been rejected by union members.
A major crux is that the company plans to cancel the requirement that part-time employees work at least seven hours per shift. Yarra Tram hopes to increase the upper limit of the number of part-time employees of the tram from 4% to 15%. Luba Grigorovitch, secretary general of the Railways, Trams and Buses Union (RTBU), said the company is preparing to make the station full of part-time workers. Grigovich said, “These bans are the first step in our labor action, which will put pressure on Yarra Traction Company, manage your duty schedule and do other administrative tasks.” “Now management respects employees It’s time to work hard and dedication.”