Workers back down on Origin rail strikes

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 2, 2026

The Rail Tram and Bus Union has canceled planned train controller strikes that threatened to disrupt transport to the State of Origin match in Brisbane on July 8. This decision ensures additional train services can operate smoothly for the event while wage negotiations continue under the Fair Work Commission.

Plans for rail strikes that threatened to disrupt transport during the upcoming State of Origin rugby league match in Brisbane have been abandoned after the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) withdrew its industrial action notice. The match is scheduled for July 8 at Suncorp Stadium.

The union had initially planned for approximately 270 train controllers to refuse to operate special event services intended to ferry thousands of fans to and from the stadium. These controllers had been seeking a 30 percent pay increase and remain in ongoing negotiations with the Fair Work Commission. However, less than 24 hours after issuing the strike notice, the RTBU rescinded the planned action following criticism from government officials.

Queensland Rail responded by confirming that it had arranged additional services to accommodate the expected crowds on match day, including 29 extra trains before the game and 21 after, across the South East Queensland network. The extra services are aimed at preventing congestion, particularly at key hubs such as Milton Station.

Acting Transport and Main Roads Minister Sam O’Connor publicly urged the union to reconsider its industrial action, emphasizing the importance of maintaining transport services for sport fans. He criticized the strike threat as an attempt to leverage the high-profile State of Origin event in ongoing wage negotiations, appealing to unions to avoid using the match as a bargaining tool.

Earlier on Tuesday, a separate agreement was reached with white-collar Queensland Rail workers, delivering a 10.5 percent wage increase across three of six existing Enterprise Agreements. This deal affects around 3,500 station, administrative, and tourism staff.

The pay negotiations for train controllers continue, with the Fair Work Commission acting as the forum for resolving disputes. Queensland Rail is maintaining contingency plans should further industrial action arise, but the cancellation of the strike has alleviated immediate concerns of travel disruption ahead of one of the state’s most significant sporting events.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.