Brisbane ferry workers plan 24-hour strike during Riverfire fireworks

On Saturday morning, ferry operators in Brisbane will walk off the job for 24 hours, aligning with the Riverfire fireworks display that opens the Brisbane Festival. The Maritime Union of Australia confirmed the action will begin at 4 a.m., adding to a series of work stoppages that have occurred since late July. Pay negotiations between the union and RiverCity Ferries, which runs CityCat and ferry services in partnership with the Brisbane City Council, have been ongoing since October of the previous year.

The Brisbane City Council criticized the timing as a disruptive stunt, noting that up to half a million people are expected to attend the river precincts and that about 27,000 used the ferries last year. RiverCity Ferries' general manager Paul Rigby accused the union of trying to spoil the event, while union representative Jaiden Simpson said the operator has failed to address issues such as fatigue management, work-life balance, meal breaks, and salary increases. The union is seeking a three-year agreement with a six-percent wage rise in the first year, and no further action has been announced beyond Saturday.