Council staff in crisis: Union says bullying rife in local government

A survey by the Australian Services Union has found bullying and overwork is rife within the state’s local councils.

Bullying is rife within local government and workloads are spiralling, according to a survey of workers in the sector by the Australian Services Union.

The ASU’s survey of 385 local government workers in South Australia found 43 per cent had been subject to bullying in the workplace, while 45 per cent had witnessed a colleague being bullied in the past 12 months.

“No worker should have to put up with that at work,’’ ASU assistant branch secretary Scott Cowan said. “This survey shows very clearly that bullying is a significant issue in local government workplaces and is part of an overall culture problem that is inevitably driving staff away.’’

The ASU’s survey of council workers in South Australia found 43 per cent had been subject to bullying in the workplace

Mr Cowan also said only 7.5 per cent of workers had been satisfied with how the bullying complaint had been handled by management.

“Bullying behaviour has a significant impact on workers’ health and wellbeing, and

employers have a responsibility to create safe and healthy workplaces, which this sector is

clearly failing to do,’’ he said.

ASU members include workers employed in council libraries, community services and planning departments.

Mr Cowan said reform of workplace safety laws was needed and said the union needed to have a more direct contact with employees to resolve such issues.

He said the survey also showed that employees were also being asked to work harder, with 84 per cent saying their workload had increased in the three years since the pandemic. It also revealed that 56 per cent were working more than agreed hours each week and 69 per cent worked through breaks.

Mr Cowan also said since the pandemic, workers valued flexibility as a key attraction in a workplace. According to the survey, 65 per cent of workers would consider leaving their employer if flexible working arrangements were denied.