Brisbane motorists brace for major traffic disruptions as 450 transport engineers walk off job over pay demands
The 12-hour walkout consisting of 450 technical and road engineers will begin from 6am on Monday till 6pm, with rallies organised outside the Brisbane office of Transport and Main Roads and Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg's Sunshine Coast electorate office.
Professionals Australia union members are demanding a pay rise of between 19 to 23.5 per cent for transport engineers, but TMR has snubbed the request, offering a modest 3 per cent in line with the government wages policy.
Mr Mickelberg earlier said he recognised the important role engineers played in the public sector and no projects or programs "will be impacted by an action taken."
However, the union has warned the massive walk-off will cause delays to all major transport infrastructure projects and chaos across the traffic network, including causing significant disruption to Brisbane's Centenary Bridge upgrade and the Rockhampton Ring Road works.
Professionals Australia Queensland director Sean Kelly said following failed negations and threats from the government to withhold backpay, opting for the 12-hour work stoppage was a last resort to get pay demands over the line.
'Our members are responsible for planning, delivering, and maintaining the infrastructure that keeps Queensland moving, but they are being paid up to 20 per cent less than their counterparts working on the exact same projects,' he said.
'We won't accept unfair treatment or the Government's attempts at intimidation.
'Today is about standing together, united in our fight for fair pay, alongside technical professionals and engineering delegates who are leading the charge for wage parity across the transport sector.'
Initially, in addition to the work stoppage union members planned to place a ban on working more than 36.25 hours a week, a ban on completing accelerated training and on submitting or approving timesheets.
However, a TMR boss told employees they would be directed to not start work if they were not undertaking full duties.
'TMR has not directed union members not to work, unless those members are not undertaking full duties,' he said.
'In accordance with the Industrial Relations Act 2016, pay will only be withheld for employees who choose to not fulfill their duties as part of the protected industrial action.'
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