Government mulls legal action to halt tram strikes aimed at grand prix
Legal action could be launched to stop tram drivers from striking during Melbourne's grand prix next month, as industrial action brings the city's trams to a standstill once again.
Trams ground to a halt for four hours on Thursday, with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union and Yarra Trams at loggerheads about a pay deal.
The big crowds who line up to catch the tram to the grand prix will have to find another way to get to Albert Park.Credit:Jason South
More work stoppages are scheduled throughout March, some of which will directly impact the Formula One Australian Grand Prix, and Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne says the government is looking at all available avenues to stop any disruptions.
"Something like the grand prix, we are looking around our legal options, because this is an incredibly important event to the Victorian economy," Ms Horne said on Thursday.
"It's an economy which has been buffeted by the coronavirus and by bushfires and so the state is obviously looking at our legal options to protect the interest."
The grand prix is the busiest time of year for Melbourne's trams, with more than 134,000 race fans using more than 7000 tram services over the four days last year.
Ms Horne maintains Yarra Trams and the union must resolve their differences through the Fair Work Commission.
She understands a final point of contention between them is Yarra Trams' desire to lift a cap on part-time workers from 4 per cent to 15 per cent, a move the minister says would benefit women.
"I find it incredible that the union will not sit down and negotiate around this," she said.
Yarra Trams said it has offered a 12 per cent pay increase over four years and remains committed to continuing negotiations.
Parliamentary question time was temporarily suspended on Wednesday, as union members spoke up, some wearing T-shirts reading "Horne, do your job".
"I'm not going to be bullied and intimidated by a handful of middle-aged blokes who are hellbent on protecting their interests and not allowing part-time women into the workforce," Ms Horne said.
RTBU secretary Luba Grigorovitch insists it's long past time for Ms Horne to help end the stalemate and hit back at the minister's attack on the protesters.
"Wrong again minister. It's not just the 'middle aged blokes' who are hell bent on protecting their conditions – it's all RTBU Members," Ms Grigorovitch tweeted alongside a photo with a group of women members.
AAP