Thousands of commuters across Melbourne and regional Victoria are being warned to brace for delays, cancellations and reduced services as CDC Victoria drivers prepare for a 24-hour strike on Tuesday, 1 July.
The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU), which represents the drivers, is pressing for a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement after negotiations stalled. The strike is expected to impact a wide network of bus routes, particularly those serving outer suburbs and regional centres.
At the heart of the dispute are calls for a 21 per cent wage increase over three years. The union argues that rising living costs have outpaced driver wages and that members deserve better pay to reflect the demands of the job.
“This is about fairness,” said TWU organiser Sam Lynch. “Our members are dealing with cost pressures like everyone else, and we’re asking CDC to recognise that. No one wants to take this step, but we’ve been backed into a corner.”
Drivers have also raised concerns around shift patterns, fatigue, and safety risks tied to current rostering practices. The TWU claims management has failed to respond meaningfully to these issues during earlier talks.
CDC Victoria, one of the state’s largest private bus operators, runs services across Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and Mildura. The planned strike will see routes running at a fraction of their usual frequency in many areas, with several services cancelled altogether.
In Melbourne’s north, west and north-west suburbs, only school bus services will operate. Routes in the city’s east will have limited public buses in addition to school runs. Geelong will see school services run as normal, but other routes are expected to be heavily reduced. Mildura will keep its school services going, while public buses revert to a Saturday timetable. Ballarat will face the most severe disruption, with no school or public bus services running at all.
Commuters using operators such as Dysons, Kinetic, Ventura and McHarry’s won’t be affected. Train and tram services will also continue as normal.
The Department of Transport has urged commuters to plan ahead. “If you’re travelling on Tuesday, check your route in advance and consider leaving extra time,” a spokesperson said. “Services will be patchy on some lines, so alternatives may be necessary.”
The PTV website and app will offer live updates on changes to timetables and any temporary service adjustments. Public transport authorities are expecting crowding on unaffected routes and are recommending early travel where possible.
This is not the first time industrial action has affected Victoria’s bus network in recent months, as negotiations between unions and major operators continue across the sector.
While CDC has yet to publicly respond to the 21 per cent wage claim, insiders suggest management believes the proposal is well above the current industry trend. The company has said it remains committed to resolving the dispute but stopped short of confirming any revised offer ahead of Tuesday.
Real-time traffic conditions are available at traffic.transport.vic.gov.au. The latest public transport information and network status is available at ptv.vic.gov.au or in the PTV mobile app.
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