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3 clusters · 9 sources · 37 days · First seen · Last updated

Brisbane ferry service union strikes

Overview

The Maritime Union of Australia has engaged in industrial action against RiverCity Ferries, an operator owned by the Kelsian Group, over pay and working conditions. The union alleges that the company’s offers fail to match the Fair Work Commission’s 4.75% annual wage review or keep pace with inflation. The dispute also includes concerns regarding safety conditions, specifically worker fatigue.

Initial industrial action involved protected strikes during peak morning hours in Brisbane, affecting CityCat services. Following several shorter peak-hour disruptions, the dispute escalated to a full day-long suspension of most ferry services.

Recent industrial action is set to disrupt transport for attendees of the Brisbane Festival and the Riverfire event. A total suspension of ferry operations has been scheduled from 4am Saturday until 4am Sunday. To mitigate the impact, authorities plan to provide an additional 36,500 bus trips within 90 minutes of the Riverfire event concluding, which represents five times the extra capacity provided in 2025. Brisbane City Council has criticized the timing of the strike, labeling it a “stunt” designed to cause maximum disruption during one of the city’s largest annual events.

Entities

Maritime Union of Australia · Kelsian Group · Brisbane · RiverCity Ferries · Brisbane Festival

Timeline

  1. 8 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 7 sources
    Brisbane ferry strike threatens Riverfire festival crowds

    A ferry strike in Brisbane will disrupt transport during the Brisbane Festival and Riverfire event due to a pay and safety dispute between the Maritime Union of Australia and RiverCity Ferries.

  2. 15 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Brisbane ferry services to halt for day-long union strike

    Maritime Union of Australia workers will strike all day Friday, halting Brisbane ferry services operated by RiverCity Ferries over pay and inflation disputes.

  3. about 1 month ago

    [POLITICS] 5 sources
    Brisbane ferry services suspended during peak hours due to maritime union strike

    Brisbane CityCat ferries will halt 8‑10 am on Friday, 30 July 2026, as Australian Maritime Union members of River City Ferries strike over pay, with services resuming gradually after 10 am.

Sources

7news.com.au · communitynews.com.au · jimboombatimes.com.au · m.smh.com.au · perthnow.com.au · redlandcitybulletin.com.au · theage.com.au · theindiansun.com.au · theqldr.com.au

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history