QLD: Snap train strike snapped

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-2000
QLD: Snap train strike snapped

BRISBANE, April 13 AAP - Queensland's striking rail workers were ordered back to work
at emergency talks today in the Industrial Commission.

The Rail, Bus and Tram Union called a snap strike late last night, halting trains around
the state for 24 hours.

But the commission ordered the striking unionists to return to work and Queensland
Rail was hopeful Brisbane suburban train services would resume this afternoon.

Union secretary Les Crofton said the strike related to safety concerns over one-man
trains on the Townsville-Mt Isa line.

Premier Peter Beattie blasted the union for "bloody-minded action that reeked of unionism
of 50 years ago".

Mr Beattie said the unions were playing into the hands of federal Workplace Relations
Minister Peter Reith, whom he said was out to strip unions of their powers.

Mr Beattie also said the rail union "may as well be out there campaigning for the state
opposition".

Opposition leader Rob Borbidge said Mr Beattie and Transport Minister Steve Bredhauer
had failed to talk to union leaders.

Queensland Rail chief executive Vince O'Rourke said today's strike was illegal because
the union was obliged under law to give seven days notice of a dispute.

"They gave us 45 minutes," he said.

The snap strike stranded 150,000 daily rail commuters in Brisbane alone and halted
passenger and freight services around the state.

Mr O'Rourke said the only trains running this morning were the Tilt Train from Rockhampton
to Brisbane, crewed by members of another union.

Several long distance passenger services en route before the strike was called would
also continue their journeys, he said.

AAP geb/sc/jtb/br

KEYWORD: TRAINS QLD DAYLEAD

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