Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
· collected 2026-08-27 · by Julius Dennis
The Maritime Union of Australia is holding a day-long strike on Friday to protest workers' pay and conditions, with Brisbane's ferries remaining docked all day. The union has been in dispute with RiverCity Ferries, the company owned by Kelsian Group, since July 31, when it first took protected action against the company. According to the union, RiverCity Ferries is refusing to match a recommended 4.75% annual wage increase or keep pace with inflation. The strike will disrupt ferry services in Brisbane, except for routes to Southern Moreton Bay Islands and Coochiemudlo Island, which will operate as usual.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-27,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Brisbane's ferry system has been shut down for a day-long strike, with unionists working to pressure RiverCity Ferries, owned by Kelsian Group, to improve pay and conditions. The Maritime Union of Australia began taking action on July 31, canceling services for two hours during peak morning hours. This latest strike follows similar actions over the past month, including strikes at both morning and afternoon peak hours. According to the union, RiverCity Ferries is not offering a fair wage increase, claiming it's "not viable" despite Kelsian Group's financial reports showing substantial increases in revenue and profit. The Fair Work Commission had recommended a 4.75% annual wage review increase, but this has been rejected by the company. The strike will last all day on Friday, but ferry services are expected to resume at the first service on Saturday.
Written for “Ferry Worker Labor Dispute” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.35, but every quote it verified points left, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 2835: score contradicts its own evidence · logged 2026-08-27
Brisbane’s ferries will remain docked all day on Friday, with unionists striking all day following several peak-hour actions over the past month.
asserted
unionists → remain → month
The Maritime Union of Australia has been locking horns with the boats’ operator, RiverCity Ferries, over workers’ pay and conditions ahead of Friday’s halt.
asserted
Union → lock → halt
The union started taking protected action against the company, which is owned by the Kelsian Group, on July 31, cancelling services for two hours from 8am to 10am.
asserted
which → start → 10
Ahead of that action the union said the company was putting profits ahead of the workers.
asserted
company → say → workers
“RiverCity Ferries won’t even match the Fair Work Commission’s own 4.75 per cent annual wage review increase or keep pace with inflation, claiming it is ‘not viable’ – all the while its parent company Kelsian Group’s own financial reports show substantial increases in revenue and profit,” the statement said.
asserted
statement → match → revenue
The day-long action comes after previous strikes at both morning and afternoon peak hours.
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action → come → hours
Ferry services will resume at first service on Saturday.
asserted
services → resume → Saturday
Services to the Southern Moreton Bay Islands and Coochiemudlo Island will operate as usual.
asserted
Services → operate → Islands
