Opal readers on Sydney Ferries to be switched off for four weeks, union says amid industrial action
Posted Wed 9 Sep 2026 at 12:00pmWed 9 Sep 2026 at 12:00pmWed 9 Sep 2026 at 12:00pm, updated Wed 9 Sep 2026 at 12:01pmWed 9 Sep 2026 at 12:01pmWed 9 Sep 2026 at 12:01pm
In short:
Opal readers on Sydney Ferries will be turned off from Friday, September 11 for four weeks as part of industrial action, according to the Maritime Union of Australia.
Transport for NSW says regular fares will still apply, and turning off the readers falls outside the notified industrial action.
What’s next?
The action will take place from Friday, September 11 until midnight on Tuesday, October 6.
Opal card readers on Sydney ferries will be turned off for almost four weeks, the maritime workers union says as they step up industrial action against the private operator Transdev.
Sydney Ferries workers have been stuck in enterprise bargaining negotiations with the operator, as the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) pushes for a 5 per cent wage increase and an annual increase to offset inflation.
MUA deputy branch secretary Paul Garrett told 702 ABC Sydney the card readers will be turned off from 12:01am on Friday, September 11 until 11:59pm on October 6.
“Everyone travels for free until this dispute’s resolved,” Mr Garrett said.
“This is a decision that’s been made because we can’t get Transdev Sydney Ferries and their parent company, Transdev Australasia, to the table for a fair wage increase.
“We’ve been trying now 13 odd times with meetings. Workers have had enough.“
Mr Garrett said Transdev had made an offer of a 3.3 per cent wage increase per year, which he described as “substandard”.
702 ABC Sydney has contacted Transdev for comment.
Mr Garrett said some services might be cancelled as a result of industrial action banning some overtime work on ferries.
“Part of the problem with these negotiations is that workers have got to work endless overtime to keep services running,” Mr Garrett said.
“Our intention is not to stop the services. We’re not taking strike action.”
Sydney’s ferries were impacted on Wednesday morning last week due to a stop-work meeting of union members.
Deactivating readers falls outside industrial action: Transdev
Despite the union’s announcement, Transport for NSW said normal fares would continue to apply on Sydney Ferries services.
According to a statement from Transport for NSW, Transdev Sydney Ferries considered deactivating Opal readers as being outside of the industrial action notified by the maritime union.
“There has been some speculation about free travel on Sydney Ferries during this period,” Transport for NSW coordinator-general Howard Collins said.
“However, normal fares continue to apply and all passengers are required to tap on and tap off with a valid Opal card or contactless payment method when travelling.“
However, Mr Garrett said the union would be going ahead with the industrial action as announced.
“We won’t be selling, collecting or validating tickets,” Mr Garrett said.
“Passengers I’m sure will be enjoying a free ferry trip as from Friday.”
Mr Collins told 702 ABC Sydney on Tuesday that the Manly ferry service was experiencing significant disruptions from the union’s industrial action on overtime work.
“We’re asking customers if they’re travelling by ferry, or planning to, check in advance,” Mr Collins said.
“We are now asking Transdev to focus on maintaining those core routes.”