Metro Tasmania mechanics have walked out of the workshop as they strike once again for higher pay.
The state-owned transport operator and the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) have been in negotiations for several months.
According to the union, workers are being paid up to $10 less per hour than the industry market rate, leading to one-third of positions remaining vacant due to low pay rates.
AMWU acting state secretary Jacob Batt said there has been a turnover rate of more than 50% in the workshop over the last two years as mechanics find higher-paying opportunities elsewhere.
“Metro Tasmania hasn’t even been trying to recruit for over six months because the rates of pay are simply that low compared to the industry market rate,” he said.
“Metro Tasmania has not tried to ensure that they can keep workers at Metro and has not tried to ensure that they can get new workers to Metro,” he said.
A Metro spokesperson said discussions are currently underway on a proposed 17% pay increase over three years.
