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Melbourne commuters will effectively be able to travel for free on the city’s rail network next week. It’s an upside to planned protests by union members.

For the next two Mondays, on August 12 and 19, all ticket barriers will be left open and staff will refuse to check Myki cards, the city’s public transport smartcard.

Train drivers will also refuse to skip stations or change trains services for a week from next Monday and will not operate trains that don’t have fully operational Passenger Emergency Intercoms.

Commuter facing employees will also participate in an indefinite ban on wearing uniforms starting next Monday.

The industrial action against Metro Trains, the private firm that is contracted to run the city’s rail network, comes as the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) launches a battle for better pay.

The union is demanding a 6 per cent pay rise but Metro Trains is offering them only a 2 per cent rise.

RTBU Victorian Branch Secretary Luba Grigorovitch said the aim of the action was to hurt “Metro’s hip pocket” and not to inconvenience the public.

“The RTBU is seeking to keep the public well informed of any impacts ahead of any industrial action, however these action items announced today are designed to target Metro and will not impact commuters’ ability to catch the train,” Ms Grigorovitch said in a statement.

Negotiations with the rail company have been going for almost six months with concerns about job security, rostering and overtime emerging as key issues along with pay.

Nearly 30 bargaining sessions have taken place and further meetings are scheduled this week.

A ballot was conducted last Monday so union members could decide whether they wanted the industrial action to go ahead returned a 99 per cent yes vote.

“It is clear RTBU members are angry at Metro’s approach to negotiations and quite

reasonably want the security of a new agreement with fair working conditions,” said Ms. Grigorovitch

“The RTBU will continue to meet with Metro and negotiate in good faith. Our members would prefer to avoid industrial action if an agreement can be reached, however the level of frustration among members is at an all-time high and we will continue with industrial action if pushed.”

Metro Trains has blasted the planned industrial action as “completely unnecessary”.

“This action is still avoidable and we encourage the union to reconsider,” a spokesman said in a statement.

“We will do everything in our power to minimise disruptions to our passengers as a result of any action taken.”