On strike against Metro
It has never been so easy to get out of bed. I woke up well before my 4:30am alarm to get to work for the early morning shift. Across Melbourne’s metropolitan train network, hundreds of us were signing on for work and gearing up to walk-off at 10am for a four-hour stop-work.
Most of us were devastated when a previous stop-work was called off because Metro said it would improve its offer. Delegates who argued that it was a mistake were vindicated when the company presented an insulting offer that slashed core conditions.
For months, union activists and delegates have been travelling around the network talking to union members and holding meetings. Finally, by striking, we were to land our first blow against the company. We had already watched on as our union comrades in the tram division struck for their rights.
At my workplace, Flinders Street Station, the mood was one of excitement. We turned the company’s tool box meeting into a quick discussion about how we should coordinate our walk-off. Managers wandered around trying to find workers who would shake their hands, offering up platitudes about their concern for our wellbeing. “Spirits have never been higher!”, was the response of one station assistant.
As 10am approached, we started to congregate around the concourse. By then, the human resources department had appeared, dressed in our orange vests. Apparently they were there to do our jobs. We watched for a moment in amusement as they tried to figure out how the public transport system operates. But as the seconds ticked over we counted down “… 4,3,2,1 strike!”.
It’s hard to describe the feeling of walking out, standing together on Flinders Street Stations steps, on strike for the first time in 18 years. Knowing that we matter and won’t be pushed around.
“This is the most beautiful thing you will ever see”, James, a workmate, said to me, “but next time we have to go out for the whole day”.
We made our way to Trades Hall so we could march back to Flinders Street Station with hundreds of other union members and supporters. Signallers, station staff, control desk operators, admin assistants, train drivers – all the different grades melted away. There were cheers, hugs and plenty of back slaps as contingents from all the stations and depots joined the rally.
Back on the steps, this time with a crowd, we resolved to continue taking action until Metro shows us respect.
Gushing with excitement about how powerful we felt, we headed over the road to toast our strike. After celebrations, discussions turned to the question of what next.
At the start of our campaign, many union members thought that the threat of industrial action alone would force the company to back down. It’s clear now that these mongrels are up for a fight. The feeling in the pub that afternoon, and at work the next day, was that we need to hit harder next time – we need to go out for 24 hours.
The task of delegates and activists now is to keep the momentum up. Metro is back at the bargaining table and has increased its pay offer. But it still wants to gut our conditions. Our fight has moved the company, but this is not the time to back down or ease up. Now we need to keep pushing to a victory.
