Ipswich City Council workers strike over ‘insulting’ 9 per cent pay increase offer

A throng of council workers up and left their Nicholas St Mall office on Thursday morning to rally with their colleagues in protest of an ‘unfair’ pay increase offer of nine per cent.

Ipswich City Council workers turned out in droves on Thursday morning to protest the organisation’s “refusal to provide a fair pay increase”, arguing their tireless work throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent flooding event warranted one more significant than offered.

The Services Union, which represents local government staff, has been “in negotiations” with the council since mid-last year on behalf of its members who work in administrative, technical, and community service roles.

The council recently agreed to increase Ipswich waste truck drivers’ pay by 10 per cent over three years, and that of the rest of its workforce by nine per cent over the same period.

The Services Union executive president Jennifer Thomas and lead organiser John Denny addressed the crowd of council workers on Thursday morning. Picture: Jessica Baker

Ipswich City Council customer service workers Ariana Kainuku and Logan Furze were two of some 50 people in attendance on Thursday, fighting for better pay to meet the rising cost of living.

“Pretty much we’re just asking for better pay to obviously help with our life expenses, mortgages, rates, and everything like that,” Ms Kainuku said.

“Ipswich waste services are getting a higher percentage than us at the moment so we’re wanting to be equal with them.”

The council workers shouted in unison at their Nicholas St office building that they wanted "equal pay" "now". Picture: Jessica Baker

Mr Furze said he too was protesting for equality among Ipswich council workers.

“We’re all doing the same job,” he said.

“Our roles are different but we’re here for the customers and the community. Everyone should be getting equal treatment from the higher-ups.

“Only seems fair.”

The protest is understood to be the first of its kind at Ipswich in more than 15 years. Picture: Jessica Baker

The group gathered in front of the council building at the Nicholas St Mall at 10.15am — holding signs reading ‘stop the praise, give us a raise’, ‘equal work deserves equal pay’, and the like — to hear executive president of The Services Union Jennifer Thomas speak and to voice their requests to the “higher-ups” who remained in their offices.

“What do we want?” a union worker asked the crowd.

“Fair pay,” the crowd shouted back.

“When do we want it?” the union worker said.

“Now,” chanted the crowd.

The group intends to gather again next week if their request for equal pay is not soon addressed by the council. Picture: Jessica Baker

The union’s Ms Thomas said it was “astounding and quite insulting” that the council would propose to apply a lower pay increase to some sections of its workforce.

“Everyone in Australia and everyone in this area is experiencing very, very big issues with their cost of living,” she said.

“And really the sentiment here today was we need to make sure that we use this opportunity wisely to get a deal that is fair, that doesn’t keep digging deeper into the gender pay gap that we have here at the council, and addresses our cost of living needs.”

She said she hoped the council would open its doors to hear the concerns of its indoor workforce.

The crowd marched through the Nicholas St Mall in protest. Picture: Jessica Baker

Ipswich City Council acting CEO Peter Tabulo said “stop work actions” would be carried out between the hours of 6am and 6pm on both April 7 and 8.

“This may have an impact on some council services, however (the) council will do everything it can to ensure any impacts are minimal during this time for our community,” he said.

About 50 union members and council workers attended the protest on Thursday morning. Picture: Jessica Baker

“Our workforce has been doing a wonderful job of working together to assist our community as it still recovers from the recent flood events – many going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure our community is safe, protected and the recovery from this disastrous event is as swift as possible.

“Our focus as always remains on providing the best services to our community.”

The union group will gather again next week if its concerns are not soon addressed by the council.