The Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU), which represents train crews and maintenance workers at Aurizon, Australia’s largest rail freight operator, has announced that workers are preparing to strike on Friday, December 14, due to the protracted pay negotiations with Aurizon. According to a report by Reuters, the strike on the four major railways in the state of Queensland might delay shipments from the world’s largest coking coal export region.
RTBU stated that workers will halt work at noon on Friday for four days and reject working overtime for seven days, totaling 11 days of action.
Aurizon told Reuters that, if the strikes go ahead, the following lines would stop for 24 hours: Blackwater and Moura starting from noon on Friday, Goonyella and Newlands from noon on Saturday, and its corridor into Brisbane from noon on Monday. These lines connect the coal-rich Bowen Basin with ports on Australia’s east coast.
Reuters also quoted the company as saying, “Aurizon is urging the unions to withdraw their proposed industrial action. It is extremely disappointing that unions have elected to take this unnecessary and premature step.”
On the other hand, RTBU Queensland branch secretary Owen Doogan stated, “Unless Aurizon changes its negotiation style, and genuinely seeks to reach an agreement with its workers, it is highly likely that this dispute will escalate further - leading to regrettable disruption to Australia’s coal export supply chain.”