Noosa Council workers striking over cost of living pay raise dispute

Noosa Council workers went on strike due to an ongoing pay dispute only weeks after garbage collectors took industrial action.

Noosa Council building. Photo: Noosa Council.

Noosa Council employees walked off the job today as pay disputes escalate between the organisation and unions.

About 100 members of The Services Union, The Australian Workers’ Union and CFMEU demonstrated today outside the council offices in Tewantin.

Flag-waving employees marched through the main street chanting “union power,” “stronger together” and “shame, Noosa, shame” as passing cars honked their horns in support.

Noosa Council workers walked off the job on Wednesday, March 19.

Workers are in pursuit of a new enterprise bargaining agreement that provides a 9.5 per cent wage increase in 2025, followed by 4.5 per cent raises in 2026 and 2027.

They said this increase is justified due to the soaring rent, with workers being forced to live out of the shire, and general cost of living crunch being felt by Noosa residents.

The council responded that such an increase would be financially difficult.

This follows consecutive strikes from Transport Workers’ Union members employed by Cleanaway, which provides garbage collection to Noosa Council, demanding a seven per cent wage increase for the same cost of living pressures.

Cleanaway and council workers have indicated they will strike again.

The Services Union’s statement stated the council had “failed to offer adequate pay increases that properly reflect the hard work and dedication of TSU members”.

The Services Union lead organiser Tom Rivers.

Lead organiser Tom Rivers said it was time for council to present an offer that kept up with cost of living.

“Every day, employees at Noosa Council go above and beyond to provide vital services to their local community,” Mr Rivers said.

“We are striking here today as wages are falling behind neighbouring councils and Noosa has a recruitment and retention nightmare for staff,” he said over chants of “CEO, must go” by the workers.

The workers were heard complaining that their managers had joked that “they can’t afford to strike”.

A Noosa Council spokesman said the council did not expect any major disruptions in the community, and would try to minimise any issues as they arose.

Noosa Council Strike

Chief executive Larry Sengstock said the council made a “fair and reasonable offer that tackles the cost-of-living pressures, recognises the efforts of our staff and is financially responsible”.

“We’ve listened to feedback from our staff and tabled a generous package of conditions, including an offer of 13.5 per cent over three years,” Mr Sengstock said.

“Ultimately, we have an obligation to our staff and a responsibility to deliver services and functions to our ratepayers and to spend money wisely,” he said.

The union has rejected the council’s offer.

Noosa Council workers converged after walking out on Wednesday, March 19.

“We put forward a fairer proposal that would address the needs of our members and the challenges they face in the current economic climate,” Mr Rivers said.

“They deserve to be compensated fairly for their frontline work, especially given the rising cost of living because council’s current offer of 6.5 per cent, 3.5 per cent, and 3.5 per cent simply doesn’t cut it.”

Mr Rivers said staff was struggling to make ends meet amid high cost-of-living in Noosa.

“Unfortunately strike action is always a last resort but if council management is serious about retaining skilled workers and attracting the best talent moving forward, they need to offer a fair and competitive wage,” Mr Rivers said.

“Without this, the council will continue to face workplace attrition, and the quality of services and service delivery to Noosa’s ratepayers will inevitably suffer.”

Garbage workers in the Noosa Shire have also gone on strike twice in the last few weeks over similar pay disputes citing cost of living pressures.

Garbage collectors and waste workers in Noosa are on strike after a pay negotiation between Cleanaway and the union soured.

Transport Workers’ Union members employed by Cleanaway are campaigning for a seven per cent wage increase that keeps up with cost of living increases.

Mr Sengstock said the council valued its staff and the role they played, and found it disappointing the unions were seeking wage increases he said were simply not financially sustainable for the organisation or ratepayers.

“We have made a generous offer that is above inflation, as indicated by the consumer price index, but is in direct response to local cost of living pressures to ensure attraction and retention of staff,” Mr Sengstock said.

“As part of the next stage, we have made submissions to the Industrial Relations Commission and fully respect the designated process of this independent tribunal to deliver a fair and reasonable outcome for our people.”