Commuters wait on a platform for their regional train in a station in central Paris
Commuters wait on a platform for their regional train in a station in central Paris as one-day nationwide strike hits transportation services January 29, 2009. Hundreds of thousands of workers take part in a nationwide strike angry at what they say are insufficient government measures to tackle the economic crisis. Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes

The Fair Work Commission on Tuesday rejected the application by Metro Trains to stop further Melbourne train strikes on Thursday and Friday. The Rail, Train and Bus Union (RTBU) and Metro dispute on wages has been ongoing since last week, when the former called for a transport strike in Melbourne to get its payment demands fulfilled.

The application from Metro Trains, which was supported by the Victorian Government, had requested for the termination of RTBU’s four-hour strike, which it said would disturb commuters as it did during a similar strike last Friday. Metro Trains noted the difficulties that passengers will have to face with another strike, pointing particularly to children and wheelchair-bound travellers.

Up to 50 early morning services on Thursday, between 4 a.m to 7 a.m. are also scheduled to be cancelled as part of the planned industrial action. The Victoria Transport Ministry has requested passengers continue checking its website for further updates.

“In order to minimise the impact on the travelling public, our members such as train controllers and signallers will stay on duty long enough and return to duty early enough to ensure disruptions are limited to the four hours between 10.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.,” RTBU secretary Luba Grigorovitch stated, adding that in case an agreement is reached before Friday, the industrial action would be avoided.

According to the ABC, Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said that there was to be a proposal to continue negotiations this week, but that the union had decided to walk away. “The ball is now in the union’s court. They can pull back from this industrial action, they can get back to the negotiating table if they want to get the best outcome for their members,” she said.

She also criticised the government for mismanaging the issue from day one.

The Fair Work Commission rejected a similar petition from Yarra Trains last Friday ahead of last week's strikes, following a demand in wage increases.

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