Overview
- Unionised ferry and CityCat crews have confirmed a 24-hour work stoppage on Saturday that will take vessels out of service for Riverfire.
- Bargaining has been under way since October with 17 meetings and intermittent stoppages since July 30, and unions are pressing for pay rises, longer meal breaks and a minimum 12-hour turnaround between shifts.
- RiverCity Ferries says it has improved its offers, including pay rises in line with the Fair Work Commission increase, and accused unions of choosing the Riverfire date to increase pressure.
- Brisbane City Council has condemned the timing, deployed extra buses and backed Queensland Rail plans for additional services, but organisers warn tens of thousands who normally use river transport could face long waits and crowding.
- Negotiations remain unresolved and unions say safety and fatigue-management issues are central to the dispute, with the next steps to depend on how talks proceed after Saturday's stoppage.