At least two Brisbane train lines will be disrupted on Wednesday after a partial work ban planned by controllers was escalated by the government, according to the rail workers union.
Queensland Rail said there would be cancellations on the Ipswich/Rosewood and Cleveland lines due to protected industrial action being taken by union members.
But Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) Queensland secretary Peter Allen said roughly 200 controllers had only intended to refuse to work on coal and mineral trains.
“Unfortunately, the Queensland government has responded with a heavy-handed and disproportionate action, looking to turn a minor ban on mineral trains into a full-time stoppage. What the government is doing looks less like bargaining and more like punishment,” he said.
“Any impact on passengers is purely self-inflicted and entirely the choice of the Queensland government.”
Queensland Rail (QR) and the union were in last-minute talks at the Fair Work Commission on Tuesday, but an agreement could not be made.
It’s understood the controllers were told they would not be paid if they did not complete every aspect of their jobs.
The state-owned company and the union are at loggerheads, with a QR spokesperson saying they had made a fair offer during EBA negotiations and urging workers to come back to the bargaining table, while Allen said they had no choice but to take protected action.
“Our members did not want a full stoppage, they are only taking action on the running of mineral and coal trains after repeated attempts to negotiate in good faith were unsuccessful,” he said.
“This decision to take action against our members is a deliberate attempt to intimidate workers who are exercising their lawful right to take protected industrial action. We won’t be bullied.”
QR said disruptions could be announced at short notice, and customers should follow their social media for updates.
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