Following the actions of RTBU members, on Friday 23 February V/Line officially tabled an offer with the RTBU bargaining team. Unfortunately, they missed the mark.
The offer included a 15% wage increase, made up of a 3% increases per annum, a “Modernised Operations Allowance” of 1% per annum, and 0.5% cash payment paid on 1 July each year for the life of the agreement.
While the offer starts to make incremental steps towards addressing our claims, it falls short and contains significant attacks on Members’ rights and conditions. For example, the offer:
- Demands that Members drive up to 80km or 1hr a day to sign on at various locations, as part of the master roster.
- Demands the right to roster up to 10 hours at single time per day without any financial benefit.
- Removes additional shift counting, which will see a reduction in take home pay for members.
V/Line claims that their changes are worth a 3% increase, that takes the wage figure up to 15% from 12%. This is an insult to members potentially needing to travel an additional 2 hours a day in addition to a 10hour shift just for measly 3% increase. The bargaining team is resolute, that although we are open to new practices which generate efficiencies, we will not be selling our conditions.
Furthermore, V/Line’s offer also:
- Fails to adequately fulfill our job security claims.
- Fails to fulfill our work life balance demands, and attacks members existing work life balance.
- Fails to address numerous other union claims.
After consultation with the bargaining team, the RTBU formally rejected V/Line’s offer and strategised next steps in the campaign.
In response to V/Line’s approach to bargaining and their attack on Members’ conditions, we have resolved to escalate the industrial action by notifying V/Line of a 13 hour stoppage on Friday 8 March.
Congratulations to all members participating in action across the state. With your steadfast commitment to the campaign we continue to make progress and will continue to keep members updated throughout the process.
Support each other. Our strength as an industry union comes from our ability to act as one. Where you are off shift, stand in solidarity with V/Line members taking action to push for a speedy resolution. Remember, an injury to one is an injury to all – so from across the industry let’s organise, organise, organise!
