Gold Coast City Council workers told waste sector put to tender, Mayor Tom Tate weighs in

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has weighed in as more than 100 council staff fear their jobs may be at risk, revealing why he isn’t concerned.

GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate has said he has “no concern” for the job safety of more than 100 council staff as the city’s waste services face being sold off.

Council workers across six waste sites were told last week the Resource Recovery Services contract for the local Waste Management Services had been put to tender.

While a formal decision has yet to be made, staff were told options could result in termination or transfer.

Asked about the likelihood of job cuts on Tuesday Mayor Tate said he didn’t believe workers would lose their jobs.

“We always strive to be more efficient in our city and when that occurs, if there’s a reduction in staff numbers, there’s natural attrition,” he said.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“That means 10 per cent of our staff leave anyway each year. I don’t think there’s a job worry about the good staff if they’re willing to retrain.

“If there’s some already not working very well then it’s best to move on but as far as numbers are concerned, I don’t have a real concern.

“It’s not out of the ordinary for this to occur.”

Natural attrition or natural wastage is the process of employees leaving their jobs because they want to retire or move to other jobs.

Mayor Tate confirmed there was still no information as to any formal decision on the waste sector.

EARLIER:

MORE THAN 100 Gold Coast City Council workers are contemplating their future after they were told the city’s waste services could be sold off.

Council workers across the six waste sites were informed on Wednesday morning that the Resource Recovery Services contract for the local Waste Management Services had been put to tender.

While no formal decision has been made about the future of Gold Coast tips, staff were informed options could result in termination or transfer.

A council spokesman said according to long term forecasts the current model was unsustainable due to the impacts of COVID-19; the introduction of the State Government Waste Disposal Levy; and the Chinese ban on Australian recyclables.

However council documents show the service will still see a profit in the next financial year, along with a predicted $31.5 million drop in waste management costs on 2019/2020.

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The Reedy Creek landfill site is one of the many facilities that may be impacted by Council’s changes.

In the email to those involved, the Council said the RRS contract ‘may primarily impact’ landfill positions at the Reedy Creek and Staplyton Landfills and positions at the Reedy Creek and Molendinar recycling centres.

“Our objective remains that we maintain, wherever possible, employees whose positions may be affected by organisational change,” the notice said.

A council employee told the Bulletin the news was a ‘kick in the guts’ to workers who had been on the frontline during the peak of the pandemic.

“The whole thing is a stressful time, with Covid and everything – morale is very low,” he said.

“Basically we have been told they are looking to privatise our waste recycle centres and the landfill sites but haven’t really said what it meant for us.

“It was implied that all 130 of us should start looking elsewhere.

“They say a decision hasn’t been made but it has gone to tender so in our eyes it is a done deal.

“There are a lot of people walking around this morning with their heads down.”

The CFMEU has also slammed the move stating it failed to stack up economically.

CFMEU Southern Regional Coordinator Bluey Menon described the decision as “an equal mix of stupidity and desperation from a Mayor scrabbling for a short-term financial sugar hit.”

“Tom Tate remains stuck in some neoliberal fantasy land where privatisation will make everything better, when time and time again we’ve seen the ultimate reality is higher charges for consumers/ratepayers and reduced levels of service.

“Ratepayers who were given no inkling of this plot during the recent local government election have every right to be furious at this proposed sale.”

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Chairman of the Water, Waste and Energy committee Gail O'Neill. Picture: Jerad Williams

Chairman of the Water, Waste and Energy committee Division 14 councillor Gail O’Neill confirmed the City had not made any decisions at this stage regarding alternative models but has commenced consultation.

“It’s in consultation, there will be a report brought back,” she said.

“We’re just doing some investigation. Nothing has been put to council yet.

“No report and/or recommendations have been put to Council on any options as yet,” she said.

“But the Director has informed councillors that a lengthy consultation process will take place with employees and unions in regard to any future service model to be considered.”

A detailed report on the matter will be presented to Council for full consideration in 2021.