Noosa Council locks out striking union workers

A Qld council has fired a shot in an ongoing pay dispute as workers rally against “unfair” wages.

Noosa Council Strikes

A Qld council has fired a shot in an ongoing battle with its workers over “unfair” wages.

Noosa Council said it has been feeling the impacts of ongoing industrial action on the community.

Last week, Noosa Council chief executive Larry Sengstock advised unions that staff involved in further protected industrial action from Thursday, May 1 would be subject to an unpaid lockout.

“I have notified the unions and our staff that any employee who is a member of the unions and takes protected industrial action from their first shift on Thursday will be asked to leave work and will not be paid during the period of the lockout,” Mr Sengstock said at the time.

“It’s unfortunate it has come to this, but while we respect an employee’s right to participate in the notified action, equally as an employer, we are taking the necessary steps under the legislation.”

Workers who took part in the strikes were required to stay away from Council premises, return their commuter use vehicles and not use Council ICT and technology systems.

Employees were instructed to begin work again on Wednesday.

Noosa Council Strikes.

Noosa Council put forward a revised pay offer of an additional half a per cent to take the wage increase to 14 per cent over three years.

The unions rejected this offer, saying it wasn’t in line with the baseline offered by neighbouring councils.

According to Council, about 20 per cent of their staff are currently on strike in some capacity.

Michael Anderson, organiser for The Australian Workers Union said union members were standing firm.

“Union members were locked out of their work places by council for two days last Thursday before the Labour Day weekend,” Mr Anderson said.

“This is especially on the nose on the day to celebrate workers rights and achievements.

“Council chose this form of action to purely intimidate the workers to accept an offer that doesn’t address the cost of living pressure and wage disparity to neighbouring councils.

“The workers only earn 60k per year and are already making critical financial decisions with their families budgets.”

The workers rallied outside council chambers at Pelican St Tewantin and down on Hasting Street last Thursday to send a clear message that they will not back down.

The results of a meeting before the Queensland Industrial Relations Commissioner between union and council representatives yesterday are unclear.

Both sides say they want to find a solution.

A Noosa council spokesman said as of today “there is not much more to add at this stage”.

“All staff are back on the job, so status quo remains at this stage.”