Victorian members of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) have voted to take industrial action next week, in a move that could see free travel for Melbourne residents.

The union will hold a meeting followed by a four-hour stoppage next Wednesday, during which staff will leave ticket barriers open while refusing to check tickets or issue infringement notices.

The strike is set for the off-peak period, from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

The union wants an 18 per cent pay rise over three years for members, paid in 6 per cent increments every year, and so is threatening protected industrial action by its almost 3,000 staff, including drivers, authorised officers, signallers, station officers and administration staff.

RTBU secretary Luba Grigorovitch says negotiations with the Andrews Labor government are in their fifth month, and the union is sick of waiting.

“Our members have had enough of waiting and have reluctantly decided that they have no choice but to take industrial action,” Ms Grigorovitch told the ABC.

“This industrial action is aimed at Metro's hip pocket, not the travelling public,” she said.

“Whenever we plan to take action that impacts on the travelling public, such as stop work meetings, we will also seek to implement a free travel day.”

Metro Trains – the company that runs Melbourne train network - has issued a statement.

“Today at the Fair Work Commission, initiated by Metro and attended by RTBU, it was agreed that both parties would meet again this Thursday to progress discussions with a focus on achieving a fair outcome,” it said.

“Metro and the RTBU will report back into the Fair Work Commission [on] Thursday.

“Metro maintains the view that any industrial action is unnecessary and will do all that we can to avoid any disruption for our customers.

“At this stage, Metro has not been notified of any industrial action.”

Premier Daniel Andrews wants talks to continue.

“I would ask all parties to this enterprise bargain to think of public transport users, to think of the broader Victorian community and to sit down and work through these issues, calmly, in a rational way,” he said.

“I don't think there needs to be any sort of action and I would again appeal to everybody involved, to all the parties involved, to sit down and work through the issues.

“That's in best interests of everyone.”