The Services Union members set to vote on possible Brisbane City Council strike action

Librarians and other members of a powerful union are set to vote today on taking industrial action over a pay stoush. Their decision could leave booklovers in the lurch.

A key union will vote on whether to take strike action over Brisbane City Council’s latest pay offer. Picture: Richard Walker

Road workers, truckies, librarians and gardeners will vote today about whether to take industrial action over a tense six-month pay stoush with Brisbane City Council.

Members of the powerful The Services Union will vote on whether to endorse a recommendation by their delegates to support “protected’’ industrial action, which if passed will pave the way for workers to strike, or do “go slows” and overtime bans from early next year.

A pre-Christmas strike has already been ruled out.

The TSU supports a wide range of workers, from road workers to administration and clerical staff, but this ballot involves only those employed by council.

The CFMEU, Australian Workers’ Union, the bus drivers’ and plumbers’ unions, as well as the TSU, have all been locked in Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) negotiations with council.

It has offered a three per cent annual pay rise over the next two years, from the date of certification of a new EBA. That might not be until mid-2025.

Finance Chair Fiona Cunningham said council recognised it needed a “strong and dedicated’’ workforce to keep the city moving.

“That’s why we’ve delivered an average pay increase of almost 20 per cent to Council EBA employees over the last three years and why we’re now offering a further six per cent over the next two years,’’ she said.

“Our fair offer is in line with current inflation and we look forward to being able to deliver better wages to our workers as soon as possible.’’

But the unions have demanded six per cent more per annum over the next two years, backdated to October, with no changes to conditions including redundancy entitlements.

TSU state secretary Neil Henderson said council wanted to reduce redundancy provisions from three weeks to two weeks, per year of service.

He said an electronic ballot for TSU members would take place on December 9.

“But there will be no industrial action before Christmas,’’ Mr Henderson said.

“We are seeking a decent pay rise. This council is getting productivity in spades because workers are trying their best to get the same job done with less staff.

A key union will vote on whether to take strike action over Brisbane City Council’s latest pay offer. Picture: Richard Walker

“They’re not filling permanent roles when they become vacant and they’ve been emptying out the contractors — as contracts end they’re just not renewing them.’’

Council confirmed in an answer to a Question On Notice from the Labor Opposition this week that only 99 new staff had been hired to fill 572 permanent staff “separations’’ in the past 12 months.

Labor Opposition Leader Jared Cassidy also claimed about 30 library staff numbers had been cut.

“Right across the board, we hear from staff who are being overworked because contracts are ending without positions being filled,’’ he said.

He claimed about $56 million had been cut from wages this year.

Originally published as The Services Union members set to vote on possible Brisbane City Council strike action