A statement from Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Mark Stone AM:
Tram strikes threatened by the Rail, Train and Bus Union for 30 August will throw Melbourne's transport system into chaos, impacting more than 200,000 travellers and forcing them to cancel or postpone their journeys or take other modes of transport.
The proposed four-hour stoppage means people will be stopped from getting to work, study or other commitments, and the resulting traffic congestion will disrupt freight and business movements.
Strikes cost commuters due to missed work or personal appointments and the cost of alternative travel. They impact Victoria's liveability and tourism credentials, disadvantage retailers and result in lost productivity.
Our transport network is already under pressure from significant population growth. Network disruption is also taking place due to the Metro Tunnel and Level Crossing Removal projects. While this disruption is unavoidable, strike action is.
Melbourne's 475 trams operate over 25 routes and provide over 500,000 passenger journeys daily. Increased use of strike action represents a concerning trend, with the last tram strike occurring only four years ago in September 2015, the first strike action on Melbourne's tram network in 18 years.
