Abstract
This paper is an examination of the 1990 Melbourne tram dispute. A fiscal crisis generated by colossal financial failures led the Cain Labor government in Victoria to attempt to rationalise the workforce of Melbourne's tramways. Such a move followed the dictates of the Federal Labor government's Accords which enforced union amalgamations. The attempt to introduce a new ticketing system threatened the jobs of the trams' conductors. The tramway union's refusal to comply with the new ticketing led to a lockout and the struggle to save the conductors' jobs. Depot occupations and a tram blockade ensued. Throughout the dispute, the government refused to negotiate with the union. The dispute left the tramways' union divided and defeated. While conductors' jobs were eventually eliminated, the government remained in debt.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | The Past is Before Us: Proceedings of the Ninth National Labour History Conference, The University of Sydney, 30 June - 2 July 2005 |
| Publisher | Australian Society for the Study of Labour History and Business and Labour History Group |
| Pages | 81-88 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| ISBN (Print) | 0975767003 |
| Publication status | Published - 2005 |
| Event | National Labour History Conference - Duration: 15 Sept 2011 → … |
Conference
| Conference | National Labour History Conference |
|---|---|
| Period | 15/09/11 → … |
Keywords
- labor disputes
- Melbourne (Vic.)
- tramways
- tramway conductors
- strikes and lockouts
