Free Syd weekend ferry rides on the cards

Passengers heading to Sydney's Vivid lighting festival by ferry this long weekend could get an extra bonus - free travel.

Industrial action by Maritime Union of Australia ferry workers means there'll be a four-evening "no-ticket" protest from Friday to Monday - when passengers won't have to buy tickets between 5pm to 3am because staff will neither sell nor collect them.

On Friday, the MUA will hold a stopwork meeting from 10am and 2pm to discuss the negotiations with employer Harbour City Ferries for higher wages and other issues related to working conditions.

Harbour City Ferries is disappointed the industrial action is taking place on the Queen's Birthday holiday long weekend.

"We want all of our staff to keep their jobs and to do that we need to be realistic about pay rises and other efficiencies within the business to remain competitive and live within our means," chief executive Steffen Faurby said in a statement on Tuesday.

A number of different proposals had been put forward during six months of negotiations with the union, Mr Faurby said.

"To be clear, no employee will have a drop in pay, despite union claims to the contrary. Our employees are paid 30 to 50 per cent more than our competitors, and while we are not looking at pay cuts, it is unrealistic to expect excessive pay rises," he said.

MUA Sydney assistant secretary Garrett said workers were being asked to take a pay rise below the rate of inflation.

The popular Vivid light show, which is taking place across the CBD and harbour foreshore, winds up on Monday night.