For the first time since 1997, Melbourne’s tram workers shut down the network as part of industrial action. For four hours on 27 August, the city’s 250km of track were empty.

Striking members of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union packed into a mass meeting at Trades Hall to hear about the progress of enterprise agreement negotiations with Yarra Trams. 

Phil Atieri, secretary of the tram and bus division, reported that the company had made its first offer only on 11 August, despite bargaining starting in April. He said that, after industrial action was threatened, some progress was made on minor claims, but the union and the company remained far apart on pay and rostering. The company is insisting on shifting workers from a 7 to a 14-day roster. 

“They won’t move by simply sitting down and negotiating in good faith”, he told the meeting. “If the only thing that makes you move is industrial action, then guess what, you’re gonna get plenty of it”, he said to loud cheers and applause.

Tram workers resolved to continue their industrial action and will adopt a series of uniform bans and overtime restrictions in the lead-up to another four-hour stop-work on 10 September.