Arabic version: اتفاق أجور لسكك حديد كوينزلاند يحدد موعد استعادة الخدمات

According to ABC News, Queensland Rail and seven unions have reached an in-principle agreement to settle a long-running pay dispute, setting up the return of full services across south-east Queensland’s rail network by the end of November.

Queensland Rail and the unions had been negotiating in the Fair Work Commission since May. Protected industrial action and a maintenance backlog contributed to reduced services and frequent delays, affecting commuters across the region for months.

Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said trains would return to a normal timetable through a staged rollout beginning in October. He said Queensland Rail could restore 91 per cent of services from October 12 and would aim to restore all services by the end of November.

Queensland Rail head of corporate affairs Nev Conway said the operator would work to clear the maintenance backlog. He said 417 services a week would be reinstated, equating to about 83 extra trains a day, and said customers would notice improvements in frequency and onboard comfort as services reach 91 per cent.

Employees affected by the agreement will vote on the enterprise deal, which includes an 8.5 per cent pay rise over three years and a further uplift dependent on inflation. Rail, Tram and Bus Union branch secretary Peter Allen said the outcome secured improvements to conditions and called for full services to resume for passengers.

Mickelberg did not disclose the full cost of the agreement, saying it was in line with the government’s wages policy. Queensland Rail had signed an agreement covering about half of its almost 6,000-strong workforce in June and reached a separate agreement last month with the union representing almost 300 train controllers.