By Natalee Kerr
Geelong commuters could face the prospect of more pain, as the pay dispute between V/Line and the rail union continues.
No Geelong-Melbourne trains operated for 24 hours on Wednesday as V/Line train drivers and customer service staff went on strike for the second time in six weeks.
The industrial action follows workers striking last month for better conditions, including a six per cent annual pay rise over three years, according to the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU).
“Negotiations with V/Line continue to go in circles, we’re not getting anywhere, we need a circuit breaker,” the union’s Victorian secretary Luba Grigorovitch said.
Employees took action following a year-long industrial dispute with V/Line, according to the RTBU.
V/Line chief executive officer James Pinder labelled this week’s strike as a “distraction, disappointing and unnecessary”.
“It doesn’t help us, it doesn’t help the union and it doesn’t most importantly help our customers,” he said.
V/Line shared a “very productive and constructive” relationship with the union, according to Mr Pinder.
He was surprised by the RTBU’s decision to strike for the second time.
“We’re not falling out with each other – which is one of the reasons why we’re particularly disappointed that the union has decided to take this action,” Mr Pinder said.
Discussions between V/Line and RTBU have been “fairly reasonable” but the union appear to have no “clear idea” of what they want.
“Up until now this hasn’t been about money – we haven’t even got to the point yet where we’re talking about money,” Mr Pinder said.
“No one has actually ever come to me and said I want this amount of money.”
Mr Pinder was “optimistic” V/Line and RTBU will reach a “positive” outcome as negotiations continue.
Natalee Kerr
