Moreland City Council strike: Industrial action causes rubbish bin collection delay

A Melbourne council spending $1m to change its “racist” name has scored an 11th hour win against striking garbos.`

An inner-city council spending $1m to change its “racist” name has been saved at the last-minute from overflowing bins, as it ended a 10-month bargaining process to sign an enterprise agreement with garbos and depot staff.

Moreland City Council wrote to Hadfield, Glenroy and Pascoe Vale householders on Thursday telling them to expect delayed bin collection due to “industrial action”.

A text message alert asked people to place their bins out as normal but to be prepared to have their recyclables left on the kerb for an extra week.

“Red and green bins will be prioritised however, yellow bins may not be collected until the following week,” the message sent about 10am read.

But late on Thursday Moreland chief executive Cathy Henderson confirmed that an EBA sent to depot staff had been approved by 83 per cent of staff — despite stiff opposition from the Municipal and Utilities Workers Union (MUWU), who had called for industrial action.

The council confirmed that as of Thursday evening all recycling bins impacted by the action had been emptied.

The disagreement between Moreland maintenance workers, based at the Hadfield depot, and council saw workers padlock the depot and refuse to empty bins in May.

MUWU holding out for a two per cent increase each for three years, back dated to July last year, and a $20 per week emergency allowance for depot staff.

The specifics of the latest deal struck by the council with workers are yet to be released.

Earlier in May, the Herald Sun reported more than 500 workers — including garbos, gardners and library workers — went on strike over wages.

Hadfield resident Vince Vetta described the situation late on Thursday as “ridiculous”.

“You pay them rates and they can’t even get this done. It’s what their supposed to do,” Mr Vetta, who hasn’t had his recycling bin emptied in a fortnight, said.

Mr Vetta said the situation was unsightly, with rubbish overflowing from household bins and littering the street.

Moreland councillor Oscar Yildiz said he had received “at least” 30 complaints over the situation.

As it battles with staff over a pay rise, the council is spending $1m to change its name due to its links to a 19th century Jamaican slave estate.