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Posted by Dale Crisp
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30 Jul, 2026
MARITIME UNIONS claim the main operator of Brisbane’s river ferry services has chosen to shut down tomorrow rather than negotiate over a new enterprise agreement.
The Australian Maritime Officers Union and the Maritime Union of Australia say they notified RiverCity Ferries of protected industrial action commencing at 0800 tomorrow [31 July 2026] onboard the CityCats and KittyCats.
The action includes a two-hour stoppage of work, a ban on the performance of overtime and a ban on operating the Go Card ticketing system onboard vessels between 0800 on Friday, 31 July 2026 and 0800 on Friday, 7 August 2026.
The affected ferries on the Brisbane River are operated by RiverCity Ferries under a contract awarded by the Brisbane City Council in mid-2022. The parent company is the Kelsian Group, then known as SeaLink Travel Group, which has been contacted for comment.
The unions say early communication from RiverCity Ferries to their crews indicates that the company intends to stand down its employees in response to the protected action notification.
“RiverCity Ferries would prefer to shut down the ferries for two hours rather than operate a skeleton timetable. That shows the contempt they have for their employees and the passengers relying on the service to get to work,” AMOU industrial office Tracey Ellis said.
“You can expect the free rides onboard the ferries to continue until RiverCity Ferries come back to the table.”
The RiverCity Ferries enterprise agreement expired on 30 June 2026, and negotiations have failed to produce an outcome.
“RiverCity Ferries are offering a 3.5% wage increase, which is lower than the 4.75% Fair Work Commission minimum wage increase,” Ms Ellis said.
“These workers are doing a public service and going backwards financially compared to the sharp rise in the cost of living.”
The parties attended a compulsory conciliation conference in the Fair Work Commission on 16 July 2026 where, “Even the Commissioner suggested RCF sharpen their pencil,” Ms Ellis said.
