City of Kingston’s casual workers take a hit amid coronavirus outbreak
Swimming teachers, arts event organisers and library workers are among the hundreds of casual City of Kingston staff to lose their jobs as the coronavirus spread forced the closure of council’s public facilities.
Inner South
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Casual council workers from the City of Kingston have taken a hit with some left without work amid the coronavirus crisis.
Chief executive Julie Reid confirmed up to 190 casual staff who worked as swimming teachers, at arts events and in the library received two weeks’ pay due to a decrease in availability of shifts, but said some were redeployed to other areas.
The payout was equivalent to two days’ pay for most people as most worked only one day per week.
And casual staff at councils are denied access to the Federal Government’s $1500 fortnightly JobKeeper payment.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said local government will not be able to apply for the program but would be provided with support by the State Government.
A legislative loophole means even those staff not directly employed by the council, but by a subsidiary, are also exempt from the relief program.
The jobs crisis follows recent shift losses when the hugely popular Don Tatnell leisure centre was shut down following the discovery of leaky pipes and sinkholes filled with mud in February.
Some of the centre’s casual staff got shifts at the Waves pool in Cheltenham before it was closed down due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Ms Reid told the Leader that council acknowledged the region had been affected by the coronavirus state of emergency and that she was dedicated to providing meaningful work “within its widest meaning” to as many staff as possible.
“(This) includes the establishment of an internal jobs listing and the redeployment of
staff to other duties,” she said.
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“Council recognises that the chief executive will continue to support staff with conditions of employment including all types of leave, flexible working arrangements where possible as the default working arrangement, and compensation for the use of employee’s personal resources that are in accordance with the current enterprise agreement and at least consistent with those arrangements being provided to other employment sectors.
“The chief executive is committed to providing meaningful work within its widest
meaning to as many staff as possible to fulfil council’s obligation to support the health and well being of the community.”