FURTHER rail industrial action remains a possibility with V/Line commuters potentially facing more stoppages and delays in coming weeks, with the impasse between the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) and the state government still unresolved.
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Despite industrial action which saw trains cancelled on every regional train line for one day in December, an agreement is still be reached between the warring parties over conditions. Overtime bans and rolling stop works operated between December 11 and 20, while trains on each line were taken off for one day.
The RTBU confirmed the next bargaining meeting is scheduled to take place in the coming days, with a real possibility of more industrial action which could hit regional lines leading into the return of the school year.
Branch secretary Luba Grigorovitch said negotiations between the rail authority, the state government and the RTBU have been ongoing since the start of 2019.
"This campaign is all about conditions", Ms Grigorovitch said. "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.
"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."
The threat of further action comes as the RTBU also steps up its campaign against Yarra Trams over working conditions. Tram drivers and other staff will stop work from 10am to 2pm on January 28 and 30. A state government spokesperson said in December "we expect negotiations to continue in good faith between the parties involved".