Update, 6pm:
V/LINE will 'continue to negotiate in good faith' with the Victorian Rail, Tram & Bus Union.
It comes after the union today informed V/Line of protected industrial action scheduled from next week.
V/Line chief executive James Pinder said the protected industrial action was "extremely disappointing" and would cause significant disruption to passengers in the lead-up to Christmas.
"We will be doing everything we possibly can to minimise the impact of protected industrial action, to help ensure our passengers can continue to get where they need to go during the festive season," he said.
"We will ensure passengers are given as much notice as possible of any service changes through the various communication channels, including the V/Line website, app and social media."
Two meetings between V/Line and workers' representatives are scheduled this week, concerning the new V/Line operations workplace agreement.
Official negotiations started on July 10. There have been 13 meetings since then.
Victorian RTBU secretary Luba Grigorovitch said the union had been trying to negotiate with V/Line since the start of the year.
"The RTBU is always ready to negotiate when V/Line and the Government are ready to take these talks seriously," she said.
She said the union was campaigning for additional funding for regional services.
"The government is expecting V/Line workers to do more with less, more services less support, and our members just won't stand for it," Ms Grigorovitch said.
Update, 1:12pm:
V/Line staff have voted in favour of industrial action, with services on the Bendigo and Swan Hill lines among those affected.
There will be no train services on the Bendigo and Swan Hill lines on December 11.
Maryborough line services will be cancelled the following day, December 12.
All services departing from Southern Cross on December 16 will be subject to a six-minute stop work, from the scheduled departure time.
More than 98 per cent of V/Line operation staff moved to take the industrial action, which starts on December 11.
Victorian Rail Tram and Bus Union secretary Luba Grigorovitch said the 98 per cent vote was indicative of the temperature among members frustrated by V/Line's attacks.
"This campaign is all about conditions", she said.
"V/Line's attacks on staff have not been well received and members are ready to stand up.
"Our members take great pride in their work, getting people from A to B, but when government and the company team up to attack their ability to deliver that service they take it very personally.
"We don't make the decision to take industrial action lightly."
A press conference is scheduled for 3pm on Tuesday in Melbourne.
Earlier, Monday
ROLLING stoppages on V/Line services could begin within seven days if the state government does not listen to worker demands over condition the Rail, Tram and Bus Union says
V/Line staff on Monday voted overwhelmingly on protected industrial action, with 98 per cent of union members endorsing the action which could see stoppages of any time from six minutes to 48 hours.
It is understood the action centres around working condition, more-so than pay grades.
The union says members have been seeking a new enterprise agreement with V/Line since January this year, with the current enterprise bargaining agreement having expired four months ago.
Secretary Luba Grigorovitch said while the state government had spent money on long overdue upgrades to tracks, the increased patronage and services had meant more was being expected of workers.
She said workers were keen to know whether they could spend Christmas with the families or not.
"V/Line is an organisation in need of resources, we can't expect to run a railway in 2019 on the staffing levels of 1986," Ms Grigorovitch said.
"Regional Victoria deserves not only better train services, but also the operational staffing requirements to ensure reliability.
"With over 98 percent of members who voted endorsing industrial action it is clear members are frustrated by slow progress and V/Line's efforts to attack training standards and a reasonable disciplinary process."
The ballot has approved industrial action that covers the full range of V/Lines operational and frontline staff including workplace stoppages ranging from six minutes to 48 hours and also includes bans on working overtime.
A spokesperson for Ms Grigorovitch said on Monday afternoon that the government was "on notice" while any stoppages would be aimed at limiting the effect on passengers.
A spokesperson for the state government said, "We expect negotiations to continue in good faith between the parties involved."
