Brisbane bus driver wears MAGA hat as tensions rise in union battle

Council says it won’t back down on a union wage push that will make Brisbane bus drivers the highest paid in Australia, but admits it can’t stop them from wearing MAGA caps.

Brisbane City Council has a union fight on its hands. Picture: Liam Kidston

Council says it won’t back down on fighting a union push for pay rises for its bus drivers, already the highest paid in the country, but admits it can’t stop them wearing Trump-style MAGA caps as part of union industrial action.

Transport chair Ryan Murphy said a driver spotted with a red MAGA (Make America Great Again) cap, synonymous with US President Donald Trump and his supporters, was “not in trouble’’.

He said drivers had not been wearing uniforms as part of protected industrial so council’s normal uniform standards did not apply.

“Our uniform policy is effectively suspended. We don’t have much control,’’ he told radio 4BC on Thursday morning.

“When the QIRC (Queensland Industrial Relations Commission) say this is protected industrial action, that’s the law and we follow the law.’’

The MAGA cap incident sparked a huge public backlash from residents.

Mr Murphy also vowed to fight the latest 6.5 per cent pay claim, over two years, plus an extra 12 per cent, which came on top of two 8 per cent wage hikes during Covid.

Asked if drivers were worth that much money, Mr Murphy said: “Our bus drivers do do a great job for our city.

“But the feeling out there in the depots is they’re quite happy. There’s a difference between what the union says and what drivers are feeling.

“They’re the best paid drivers in the country.’’

Mr Murphy said any pay rise would have to be passed on to the state government via TransLink and, with the introduction of 50c fares, there was much less fare revenue being generated to fund pay rises.

A Brisbane Bus driver has been seen wearing a trump hat. Picture: supplied

About 200 union members have chosen to forgo their uniforms as part of ongoing industrial action.

A photo of the Brisbane bus driver wearing the MAGA cap has been shared to social media with commenters questioning the “politically associated clothing” while on the job.

“While they are driving, they are representing BCC. They would have a dress code that would ban them from wearing politically associated clothing. Definitely report him,” one commenter said.

It came as council union members on January 30 undertook 30 days of protected industrial action and put a “ban” on wearing bus driver uniforms, or have been wearing non-uniform accessories.

Brisbane City Council’s Code of Conduct (The Code) provides guidance to employees about what is expected of them and what they can expect in return.

Under the code’s section 4 (procedure requirements), council workers are to “accept and value their duty to provide advice which is objective, independent, apolitical and impartial.”

Civic Cabinet Chair for Transport Councillor Ryan Murphy. Picture: Liam Kidston

Mr Murphy said Brisbane City Council was one of the largest bus operators in the country and drivers’ pay had increased by more than 30 per cent since 2012.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union assistant state secretary Tom Brown said the uniform ban was one of a range of actions drivers have voted to take in order to force Brisbane City Council to make a better pay offer.

Brisbane City Council union members place a “ban” on uniforms in part of ongoing industrial action. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

“And agree to backdate this to October last year when this pay rise was due. Current offer is 3.5 per cent. Combined council unions are asking for 4 per cent,” Mr Brown said.

Mr Brown said the industrial action also includes not doing extra work or working past breaks or finish times.

“However this could end if an offer is made on Friday when we meet in the commission.

“2000 union members are engaged in the action, they may wear part of the uniform if they wish,” Mr Brown said.

Mr Brown said no complaints have been received from Brisbane City Council in relation to the MAGA hats, and declined to comment if the man wearing the political hat was a union member.

Originally published as Brisbane bus driver wears MAGA hat as tensions rise in union battle