Darebin council workers begin strike, taking protest to the streets

After weeks of industrial action, workers at Darebin council are ramping up the fight for better pay, taking their protest to town hall.

Darebin council workers walked off the job and protested on the steps of Preston Town Hall after engaging in industrial action for better pay for the past six weeks.

Hundreds of workers from northern suburbs council have taken industrial action, protesting for better pay, with disgruntled crowds gathering with signs on the town hall

Employees of the City of Darebin have been undertaking industrial action since the beginning of May, banning almost all work tasks, but are now escalating the fight by spending hours of each working day on strike.

The workers will engage in work stoppages each day, with employees at libraries, leisure centres, aged care facilities, family services and more not starting work until noon in protest from June 15.

The protest comes after more than 200 council employees voted to reject their enterprise agreement offer and take action to demand pay rises, fairer workplace processes around disciplinary procedures and work vacancy options.

A worker at the protest with a sign.

Many workers held signs demanding fair wages.

Australian Services Union deputy branch secretary Tash Wark said that workers taking the step to withdraw labour was not considered lightly.

“This action is a measure of the anger and frustration our members feel at the continued obstinacy of the City of Darebin executive in opposing any kind of productive consultation on a fair wage deal to their workers,” Ms Wark said.

A protester held a sign that read: ‘Little Miss Undervalued.”

About 200 workers gathered on June 15 to demand better pay.

“It is up to the well-paid management of Darebin council to stop attacking workers and instead listen to their requests for a reasonable wage and adjustments to non-cost conditions at a time when the cost of living is becoming ever harder.”
The union-organised protest took place on the steps of the Preston Town Hall where about 200 frustrated employees gathered with signs to show their solidarity.

City of Darebin chief executive Peter Smith said the enterprise bargaining agreement offer made by council was the best it could do.

“Council has made a fair and reasonable offer involving an increase in wages and improved employment conditions,’’ he said.

“In light of our financial situation, we have made our best offer and we’ve done extensive work to find efficiencies in our current budget.

“(We) have done extensive work to get an outcome that meets staff expectations while balancing our financial sustainability.”