Melbourne’s train strike could impact AFL finals
LATEST: Transport officials have hit out at suggestions Metro workers may strike during the AFL finals.
It follows comments from CFMEU boss John Setka, who said finals time would be a ‘wonderful time’ for industrial action.
Metro boss Andrew Lazala said threats like that were unacceptable.
‘It would be an absolute outrage, if that was the case,’ Mr Lazala said.
‘The solution is to keep talking and compromise – both parties – to reach a satisfactory outcome as soon as possible.’
Services are now back on track, after Metro workers walked off the job in a dispute with their employer over conditions on Friday.
The strike was expected to bring Melbourne to its knees, however the city’s roads and other transport networks handled it better than expected.
The outcome for Melbourne’s economy isn’t likely to be as positive, with Lord Mayor Robert Doyle expecting the city to take a ‘$10 million hit’ because of the action.
RECAP
How Friday’s strike panned out…
- Train drivers walked off the job at 10am and returned at 2pm.
- Delays lasted until around 4.30pm, with most lines fully operating again shortly after?.
- More strikes are possible in coming weeks – at the rally, CFMEU boss John Setka said: ‘It’s finals time soon, what a wonderful time to have some industrial action’.
Train drivers rallied through the streets of Melbourne until 2pm, accompanied by the Police Association and CFMEU among other unions.
The train drivers’ rally has begun at Trades Hall in Carlton. http://t.co/S4gtRW7ojR pic.twitter.com/opKrzmxTQv
? 3AW Melbourne (@3AW693) September 4, 2015
Nearly at Flinders Street. #trainstrike. @3AW693 pic.twitter.com/FLeogh7GkS
? Lauren Hilbert (@laurenhilbert) September 4, 2015
ROADS
MORNING PEAK WRAP: Melbourne has adapted beautifully! Has every stayed at home?
VicRoads say today is only marginally worse than a normal Friday morning peak hour, although traffic is starting to develop on the major roads.
Channel Seven helicopter pilot Shayne Whiteley told Neil Mitchell traffic was light everywhere in peak hour.
AFTERNOON TRAFFIC: The Monash Fwy was the worst of the major roads, but not much worse than the usual Friday afternoon drag.
Traffic was mostly bearable elsewhere, with today’s only major delays caused by the CBD rally and a spectacular smash in Toorak.
#railstrike traffic shots. Very light everywhere @7NewsMelbourne @3AW693 pic.twitter.com/NXQ7oQAytY
? Shayne Whiteley (@7newspilot) September 3, 2015
Earlier, VicRoads told 3AW Breakfast traffic was light for a Friday, although that could change when people start heading home in the afternoon.
‘People seem to be adapting,’ Nick Fisher said.
TAXIS
- Up to 600 extra taxis hit the roads on Friday – more HERE.
- Uber drivers are expecting a big boost in business. They had double normal requests during the tram strike.