TODAY\u2019S EDITORIAL<\/a> AND JOIN THE DISCUSSION<\/p>\n\u201cThe only reason Queenslanders continue to face more crowded trains and a reduced timetable is because some unions continue to take protected industrial action,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sooner unions drop their PIA, and strike a deal with QR (Queensland Rail), the sooner we\u2019ll be able to start the process of returning a full timetable.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Shorncliffe station was closed for accessibility upgrades two months before QR started negotiating six new employment agreements with multiple unions. In that period, QR has blown out its maintenance timetable partly as a result of industrial action taken by the Australian Manufacturing Workers\u2019 Union, Electrical Trades Union and Rail, Tram and Bus Union.<\/p>\n
The RTBU is understood to be closest to a deal with QR, and is now undertaking less disruptive action, while the AMWU\u2019s ongoing action is affecting maintenance.<\/p>\n
Only half of the fleet maintained by QR is currently available, forcing the government-owned body to run three-car services instead of the standard six, and cut down on train frequency during peak hour.<\/p>\n
QR blames industrial action for the shortfall, but has also been criticised by the FWC during negotiations for making some protected action more impactful to commuters than it needed to be.<\/p>\n
Multiple attempts to reach the AMWU for clarity on its position since late last week were unsuccessful, as delegates attended Labor\u2019s national conference agitating for items in its published \u201cblueprint for action\u201d which included pushing for an unrestricted right to strike, citing a \u201clabyrinth of red tape\u201d hampering unions.<\/p>\n
\u201cA true right to strike is our most powerful weapon, and we will campaign for the removal of all legislation that restricts our ability to defend ourselves from the greed and violence of private capital\u201d, the blueprint states.<\/p>\n
Shorncliffe is not the only station now running half-hour services during peak hour, with commuters on the Doomben to Eagle Junction, Rosewood to Ipswich, and Sunshine Coast between Nambour and Caboolture still facing too few trains.<\/p>\n
Commuters on the Shorncliffe line were previously travelling to Sandgate to use the service.<\/p>\n
The Shorncliffe line will shut on the weekends of August 1-2, 22-23 and 29-30 for works on Queensland Rail\u2019s new signalling system.<\/p>\n
During the closures, trains will not run between Northgate and Shorncliffe stations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg has doubled down on his criticism of unions for Brisbane\u2019s ongoing rail chaos, 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