"Brisbane ferry workers to undertake 24-hour Riverfire work stoppage amid pay dispute with CityCat operator", 1 September 2026

Attendees at Brisbane's Riverfire will have to grapple with transport woes this weekend, as ferry workers confirm they will stop work for 24 hours …

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) said its latest industrial action will fall on Saturday, the same day as Brisbane's annual fireworks display.

It's the latest episode in a long-running pay dispute between MUA and RiverCity Ferries, which runs ferry and CityCat services along the Brisbane River in partnership with the Brisbane City Council (BCC).

Workers will walk off the job at 4am on Saturday morning.

Pay negotiations between the parties have been taking place since October last year, and MUA ferry workers have been undertaking work stoppages of varying lengths since July 30.

… General manager of RiverCity Ferries Paul Rigby said the union was planning to "spoil the party".

"Riverfire is one of the biggest nights on the Brisbane calendar, a time for family and friends to come together and celebrate along the waterway that shapes and serves the city," he said.

"The unions should stop this selfish and unnecessary disruption to what should be a day of celebration."

Mr Rigby called on the union to scrap the planned action.

"We value our hard-working staff and have worked to put a strong offer on the table for them…

MUA organiser Jaiden Simpson said the union acknowledged council's concerns about the timing but denied council allegations it was trying to "ruin" Riverfire.

"We would deny that wholeheartedly, and in fact I would say that RiverCity Ferries haven't meaningfully engaged with the unions or the delegates or their workforce for the past 17 meetings," Mr Simpson said.

He said the union had a range of concerns that had not been addressed by the operator…