Traders strike for the first time in market’s history as part of dispute with Market operators
Fresh fruit and vegetable traders at Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market have gone on strike, protesting the management of the market and rising costs.
Traders did not operate on 25 February, objecting to recently introduced charges for electricity usage and waste collection and disposal. The market is owned by the City of Melbourne and managed by wholly owned subsidiary Queen Victoria Market (QVM).
One trader, Frank Fontana, told the ABC that other points of contention included the effects of Covid-19 and the disruption of ongoing construction.
“Forty to 50 years ago the market was full. Now it’s three quarters empty,” Fontana said.
“The last thing we need now is more charges which would then force us to up the price.
Mary-Lou Howie, president of Friends of Queen Victoria Market said it was “profoundly sad” negotiations had broken down and that it had come to a strike.
“Fresh produce traders are the lifeblood of the market and they are on life support,” said Howie. “The management has not been listening to the traders and engagement has not been collaborative.”
According to QVM, recent rent rises have been kept below the level of rising costs to help with affordability, but some expenses needed to be passed on.
QVM chief executive Matt Elliott said the door was open to any trader who wanted to discuss the implementation of these charges.
“QVM management is committed to supporting all of our 500-plus traders and maintaining Queen Victoria Market as an accessible and affordable place to do business,” said Elliott.
“Over the past ten years, the daily rent on a single stall has gone up by the equivalent of a cup of coffee, despite significant operating cost increases over that time.
“That’s been done deliberately to maintain the market as an affordable place to trade, but there comes a time when some of the increasing costs associated with providing the services traders need to run their business need to be shared.”
