City of Sydney Council ranger blasts bosses over treatment
IT raked in more than $34 million in parking fine revenue last year. Now a former City of Sydney Council ranger has lashed out at managers, accusing them of “inhumane” treatment and fostering a “culture of fear”.
NSW
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A FORMER parking ranger at the state’s richest council has accused her old bosses of “inhumane” treatment and fostering “a culture of fear”.
In a letter to City of Sydney councillors and Lord Mayor Clover Moore — obtained exclusively by The Sunday Telegraph — the female employee claimed management uses the council’s code of conduct as a bullying tool against lower-ranked workers.
She also said bullying has continued despite the 2015 suicide of council ranger Leong Lim.
Mr Lim, 62, killed himself shortly after sending an email condemning the draconian management practices at the council.
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But the council has hit back, calling the claims “untrue and misleading”.
“In my time with Council I have witnessed and experienced workplace bullying being shamelessly used as a management tool to intimidate workers,” the former employee wrote.
“It is a huge relief for me personally to be leaving but I feel deeply for my co-workers that I leave behind.
“As elected representatives you can no longer distance yourself from this horrific management style. You have a duty to ask questions and to stop this inhumane method of management.”
The City of Sydney raked in more than $34.1 million in parking revenue in 2016-17, more than any other NSW council.
The next biggest gouger was Inner West Council, raking in $12m.
Former City of Sydney Liberal councillor Edward Mandla served from 2012-16.
He was unsuccessful in making public the 2012 Warfield report into bullying among council rangers and management.
“The root of the problem is the extraordinary high pay packets paid to layer upon layer of management,” Mr Mandla said.
“These packages aren’t available elsewhere in local government. This creates a culture of ‘shut up and do exactly what you are told’.
“If you do shut up, you enjoy the fruits of upper management; pay and entitlements.”
SafeWork NSW has conducted investigations into various complaints during the period 2015 to 2017.
At the completion of those investigations it was determined that no legal proceedings would be commenced.
A SafeWork NSW spokesman said it is not investigating bullying-related matters concerning the City of Sydney Council.
“SafeWork NSW has however undertaken further engagement with the council in order to assist the council to build capability to prevent and manage workplace bullying matters,” he said.
A City of Sydney spokesman said claims being made by a former staff member about the culture in the City of Sydney’s rangers unit are completely untrue and misleading.
“This employee recently left the City voluntarily,” he said.
“None of these claims had been raised by this employee while working at the City.
“Following a report that was made to SafeWork NSW in 2015, an investigation into allegations involving the Rangers unit was initiated by them.
“In February 2018, the investigation closed with no adverse findings.”
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