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Updated July 1, 2026 \u2014 12:13pm,first published 10:10am<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Queensland Rail has reached an in-principle deal with some unions on half of its disputed enterprise agreements \u2013 but rail drama for commuters is set to continue.<\/p>\n Unions, including the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, have been taking protected industrial action as part of their negotiations for new enterprise bargaining agreements.<\/p>\n Services have been reduced to the equivalent of a Saturday timetable, to allow the operator to cope with a maintenance backlog.<\/a><\/p>\n On Wednesday morning, the unions that remain without an in-principle deal withdrew a threat to take action on State of Origin night next week \u2013 a move that would have cancelled dozens of rail services for rugby league fans travelling to and from Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.<\/p>\n The deal with other unions was reached on Tuesday night, and would cover three of Queensland Rail\u2019s six existing enterprise agreements after intensive bargaining in a Fair Work Commission process since May. Some conditions were still being negotiated.<\/p>\n Queensland Rail said the reduced south-east Queensland timetable would continue due to a backlog of maintenance, continued industrial action, and ongoing negotiations for the remaining agreements.<\/p>\n Related Article On Wednesday morning, Acting Transport Minister Sam O\u2019Connor accused the RTBU and the Services Union of holding footy fans to ransom with the plans for protected action next week.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is absolutely not on,\u201d he said. \u201cDon\u2019t use the State of Origin as some kind of bargaining chip in your disagreements.\u201d<\/p>\n The action would have affected 29 pre-game special events services and 21 post-game services, but the unions have since withdrawn the notice.<\/p>\n In a statement, a QR spokeswoman said the in-principle agreements reached delivered a \u201cfair and reasonable deal for rail workers\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile Queensland Rail recognises this is positive progress, the in-principle agreement comes with conditions that are subject to further negotiations,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cTherefore, final agreement cannot be confirmed until these conditions are either satisfied or waived.\u201d<\/p>\n The three in-principle agreements reached were the Administrative, Professional and Technical (ASPT) Enterprise Agreement; the Travel and Tourism and Other Employees Enterprise Agreement; and the Station Operations Enterprise Agreement.<\/p>\n Conditions included an 8 per cent wage increase over three years plus an additional cost-of-living relief payment of up to 2.5 per cent over three years, in line with the Queensland government-owned corporations wages policy.<\/p>\n There will also be a strategic delivery allowance, an incentive to deliver major projects, and backpay from June 1, 2026.<\/p>\n The three agreements cover almost 3500 employees.<\/p>\n The final offer remained subject to the QR board and government approvals.<\/p>\n The remaining agreements being negotiated were the Train Control Enterprise Agreement, Network Enterprise Agreement, Rollingstock and Operations Enterprise Agreement, and a proposed electrical-only agreement being pushed by the Electrical Trades Union.<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Some](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7597cb2477673790b34833b99fb168a89e96e0f2aeef970486392e94a9732df7.jpeg\")
Some details are yet to be finalised, and the reduced train timetable will continue.Courtney Kruk<\/p>\n![\"Queensland](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d5aa4d647cd49c85b31c1c5a2bb3ed6b72952ec3108941fd21928549bec48063.jpeg\")
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