Melbourne's train network faces potential chaos with the public transport union taking steps towards widespread industrial action.
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The Victorian Rail, Tram and Bus Union on Wednesday lodged documents with the Fair Work Commission applying for a ballot for protected industrial action, including work stoppages by frontline staff.
The escalation comes amid a bitter industrial feud between the union and rail operator Metro after negotiations for a new workplace agreement broke down. The existing enterprise agreement expired on Tuesday.
Proposed industrial action includes inspectors refusing to check myki validations, driver bans on station-skipping, and stop-work meetings.
Union secretary Luba Grigorovitch said negotiations between rail operator Metro and the union for a new workplace deal have stalled and the existing agreement expired on Tuesday.
Ms Grigorovitch accused Metro managers of "dragging their feet" while the union fights to reach a resolution.
"It's obvious that Metro aren't fair dinkum ... our members are not prepared to let this drag on," she said.
"If we cannot reach agreement on a number of critical conditions that our members have fought to defend for decades we will have no choice by to take industrial action," Ms Grigorovitch said.
The union is seeking an 18 per cent base rise over three years, with 6 per cent to be paid every year.
Metro said it was disappointed with the RTBU's decision to file a protected action ballot just one day after the enterprise agreement expired.
"If the RTBU genuinely believed that we were not bargaining in good faith, a reasonable course of action for them would be to raise the issue in Fair Work," Metro spokeswoman Larisa Tait said.
"We have been bargaining in good faith since negotiations began and are very comfortable with our position on this. We will continue to bargain in good faith with the aim to reach an agreement as soon as possible."
Ms Tait said Metro would do everything in its power to minimise customer disruption in the event of protection industrial action by the union.
The RTBU did not rule out stopping trains, but said it would be a last resort.
"Our objective is to minimise impact the travelling public as much as possible. While stopping trains is an absolute last resort, the RTBU will keep pushing for no further delays," Ms Grigorovitch said.
Other proposed industrial measures include bans on reporting late-running trains, station announcements, overtime work and workplace trials of new technology, the union said.
Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said the state government was aware of the RTBU filing for protected industrial action with the industrial umpire.
"I understand the Rail, Tram and Bus Union has filed for protected industrial action with the Fair Work commission," Ms Allan said.
"These are matters are for Metro and the RTBU to resolve, and we expect both parties to negotiate in good faith and reach an agreement before industrial action is required."
