Talks fail to solve Magic Round train dispute
Updated ,first published
Rugby league fans will be able to catch trains to Magic Round matches this weekend but should expect disruption after an eleventh-hour attempt to resolve a dispute between Queensland Railways and rail unions failed.
After another day of talks at the Fair Work Commission, the two parties failed to reach an agreement on Thursday night and the watchdog ruled overnight to allow unions’ work bans to continue during the Magic Round.
Unions (most notably the Rail, Tram and Bus Union) are taking protected industrial action as part of negotiations on new enterprise bargaining agreements, with services continuing this week Similar to Saturday schedule Since QR handles a maintenance backlog.
RTBU claimed on its Facebook page on Thursday night that it had extended an olive branch to the employer after it was rejected.
“As a goodwill gesture, we have offered QR to suspend some of our reported industrial action, particularly the ban on special event trains, throughout the upcoming NRL Magic Round weekend if they can agree some sensible and easy-to-accept move,” the statement said.
“QR responded by telling us they would not benefit from removing the case and rejected our offer.”
Queensland Rail rejected this characterization of the meeting, saying it was given a “bogus bid and an 11th hour bid by unions to save face after putting the Magic Round at risk”.
“They actually rejected our arguments to abolish all protected industrial actions,” a spokesman said in a statement.
“It was too little, too late – our staff have worked tirelessly to mitigate the impact of industrial action and provide extra services for football fans.”
The railway authority had already promised to run dozens of extra six-car trains despite the action.
The union said talks were starting to make progress and they still hope to secure “six new EAs working for our members”.
Later on Thursday night, the Fair Work Commission ruled against Queensland Rail’s application to suspend work bans.
A spokesman said Queensland Railways respectfully opposed the decision, adding that it was not in the public’s interests to “disrupt their lives and limit their access to the public transport system”.
RTBU framed the decision as a victory over the state government’s attempt “to silence us through legislation”.
A major sticking point for the unions was: Queensland Railways insists on negotiating as a bloc with unionsnot independently.
Last week the Fair Work Commission said it had warned both sides against “using incorrect terminology in the media”, which it said would only inflame the dispute and mislead the public.
“I discourage unions from saying there is a ‘lockout’ when describing a s.471(4) notification, and equally I discourage the use of the word ‘strike’ when referring to a partial work ban,” he said in a statement.
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