Brisbane's CityCat service will stop during peak hour Friday for industrial action

RiverCity Ferries says all Brisbane CityCat services to stop during peak hour due to industrial actionPosted Thu 30 Jul 2026 at 2:58pmThu 30 Jul 2026 at 2:58pmNo ferry services will run in Brisbane between 8am and 10am on Friday. (ABC News: Christopher Gillette)In short:Brisbane's ferry network will stop services for two hours on Friday between 8am and 10am due to industrial action.Negotiations between RiverCity Ferries and the Maritime Union of Australia over an enterprise agreement have been taking place since October last year.What's next?Translink said operations will progressively return from 10am and advised customers to monitor service information.Brisbane's CityCat ferry network will stop running for two hours during peak travel times on Friday morning due to industrial action.All ferry operations will stop operating between 8am and 10am, with services to "progressively return" after 10am.RiverCity Ferries said in a statement that some employees would undertake protected industrial action for one week beginning on Friday July 31 as part of ongoing enterprise agreement negotiations.A spokesperson for RiverCity Ferries said they were "extremely disappointed" by the decision."Unions and employees have chosen to disrupt to the public in this way especially at a time when commuters are trying to get to work, students to school, and people trying to get to important medical and other personal appointments," the spokesperson said.Signs warning customers have been placed at ferry terminals. (ABC News: Stephen Clarke)Negotiations between RiverCity Ferries, the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and employee representatives have been taking place since October last year.In a statement, the MUA's Queensland branch said RiverCity Ferries had "left them no other option"."The company has refused to move on their position without taking on board their crew's concerns in a legitimate and genuine process," the spokesperson said.The spokesperson said the company had failed to address "genuine concerns" about work life balance and fatigue.More than 810,000 passengers trips were taken on Brisbane's ferry network in April. (ABC News)RiverCity Ferries said they had been working closely with Brisbane City Council and Translink to communicate any service impacts."Customers should monitor Translink's service information and pay attention to signage and announcements at ferry terminals for the latest available updates."On its website, Translink said services would "progressively resume" from 10am.Seven separate ferry services which operate on the Brisbane River will be affected.Queensland government data shows ferry patronage increased by more than 60 per cent between April 2024 and April 2026.More than 810,000 passenger trips were taken by ferry in April this year.