Melbourne Rail Workers Are Planning Strikes On The First Day Of PAX Aus 2023

Make sure to plan around it!

Avatar photoBy Kieron Verbrugge

If you’re one of the thousands of Aussies holding a badge for the first day of PAX Aus 2023, Friday October 6th, you might want to double-check your travel plans for the day.

As reported by The Age, Melbourne’s Metro Trains staff have vowed to shut down the city’s rail network across two four-hour blocks on both Friday, October 6th and Wednesday, October 11th, from 10AM – 2PM.

The union action comes as part of an ongoing pay dispute, with signallers, train controllers, station staff and authorised transit officers all taking part. Train drivers aren’t involved, but naturally without all of those other crucial roles the system will come to a complete stop during those four hours.

“The RTBU will continue to meet with Metro and negotiate in good faith as members would prefer to avoid industrial action if their concerns are addressed,” Victorian branch secretary Vik Sharma has said, meaning there’s a chance the network could continue as usual if a positive outcome is reached.

What this all means for PAX-goers is that it’ll be important to plan around Melbourne’s rail network at that time, in case the strikes do go ahead. Trams and bus services will continue as normal, and although the rail network will be under a lot of strain in the hours immediately before and after the stop work you’ll still be able to utilise them early on Friday morning – just not between 10AM and 2PM.

It’ll be well worth attending PAX Aus 2023 on the Friday as well, with special guest Erika Ishii giving the expo’s Storytime Keynote, along with a heap of other great activities, panels and events that you’ll be able to find in the full PAX Aus 2023 schedule here.

So to keep it short – plan your PAX Aus 2023 commute on Friday, October 6th around possible rail worker industrial action from 10AM to 2PM, and support rail workers by doing your best to take alternative transport outside of those times as well and relieve pressure on the system.

Thanks to @8BitElliott on Twitter for bringing this to our attention!