Unions' Easter Strike Threatens Cross River Rail Delay

0:00Cross River Rail's big upgrade in Queensland faces a potential one-year delay after unions announced industrial action over the Easter long weekend. The Rail Tram and Bus Union and Electrical Trades Union are clashing with Queensland Rail over pay and conditions, halting crucial work planned for, low ridership periods. This week's protected actions come right when crews needed to tackle key tasks, like powering down sights and signaling along the southern corridor. Pre-authority CEO Graham Newton warned that skipping these slots during school holidays and Easter could push the whole project back up to 12 months. Translings already set track closures from April 3 to April 26, hitting most train lines hard. With the project already slid to 2029-5 years late due to testing needs, this adds real pressure amid a fuel crisis making public. Transport essential. Unions are pointing fingers. The LNP government calls it orchestrated strikes hurting taxpayers while unions and opposition

1:01leaders Stephen Miles blamed the government's spiteful escalation for commuter chaos. Bottom line, these disputes risk shuffling vital work into busier times, amplifying disruptions for riders and taxpayers alike. Keep an eye on how. Negotiations shake out to avoid that full-year setback. From your city, powered by AI, this is Sydney News Today.