City of Darwin workers begin protective industrial action

Council workers have begun protective industrial action following concerns with enterprise agreement negotiations. 

MONDAY, APRIL 16: CITY of Darwin depot workers have joined the chorus of employees across the Territory taking protective industrial action. 

United Workers Union NT branch secretary Erina Early said the action began on Monday.

“Our depot members are angry that City of Darwin continues to table enterprise agreement offers which cut their conditions of employment,” she said.

“This is an absolute shame job from the City of Darwin as they are eroding conditions of employment for their loyal and hardworking workers.

“I would love to see some of these executive bosses clean the toilets, pick up rubbish, maintain gardens.

“Our City of Darwin workers are exposed to very harsh elements of Darwin. These workers deserve better.”

City of Darwin interim chief executive Simone Saunders said council respected the rights of staff to undertake industrial action.

“Negotiations have been underway for some time but we’re hoping to finalise them as soon as possible to ensure certainty for all of our staff,” she said.

“We respect the fact that as a normal part of the negotiating process staff have a right participate in industrial action. The current protected action is being taken by members of the United Workers Union, which may affect about 15 per cent of our workforce.

“Everyone at City of Darwin is paid at least 38 per cent above the current Local Government Industry Award and we’re offering a 3 per cent increase with additional compensation.”

Ms Saunders said council services remained unaffected.

Correctional officers, fire fighters and Danila Dilba health workers have also begun protective industrial action in recent months.

April 29: Alice Springs prison officers have walked off the job amid escalating tensions over the NT government’s controversial public sector pay freeze.

About 60 officers gathered outside the facility on Thursday for a 12-hour protected strike, demanding a pay rise and improved resourcing for the sector.

It follows Darwin prison officers walking off the job on Monday to take part in the May Day march, where hundreds of public servants joined forced to reject the government’s $10,000 sweetener in exchange for a four-year wage freeze.

Correctional officer and union delegate Allan Bosel said him and his colleagues were calling for a wage increase of at least three per cent per year, minimum safe staffing levels, and new equipment.

“It’s about accepting the risks that we face every day in Corrections,” he said.

“There’s so many things that happen with short-staffing and equipment not available that the risks that we do take everyday warrants a normal pay rise.

“The staff shortages are a concern, it’s hard to get people to do this job.”

Alice Springs prison officers have taken further industrial action to demand better pay and conditions. Picture: Lee Robinson.

Wage negotiations began in mid-2021 with workers calling for an increase that kept up with the rising cost of living.

United Workers Union NT, which represents thousands of public and community sector employees, said the walk-off was a “last resort”.

“Members are not going to get paid for their 12-hour walk-off today,” said branch secretary Erina Early.

“This walk-off is to put a clear message to the Gunner government that they’re not happy with a four-year wage freeze.

“We want them to scrap their current wage policy, we want backpay on the table, we want real wage increases for correctional officers.”

About 60 officers walked off the job on Thursday for a 12-hour protected strike. Picture: Lee Robinson.

Ms Early said the conditions faced by Alice Springs prison staff was an “absolute disgrace” and government had refused to accept a deal proposed by staff.

“We’ve had fires and riots here in Alice Springs, none of that has been fixed yet,” Ms Early said.

“These guys have to walk past that every day and look at it and go, ‘Our government doesn’t care enough to fix this, they haven’t given us the correct safety gear, the armour, the breathing apparatus - this hasn’t been provided to them.

“Alice Springs has not been fully staffed since it opened 35 years ago. Staff feel undervalued and disrespected.”

A spokesman for the Department of the Attorney-General and Justice said it acknowledged the right of union members to take industrial action.

“(We) continue to work with the union and their delegates,” the spokesman said.

“NT Correctional Services’ top priority is always the security, safety and wellbeing of all prisoners, employees and the wider community.”

The spokesman said routine operations had ceased inside the prison amid the strike but there was “sufficient staff on duty” to ensure prisoners and staff were kept safe and core functions could continue.

EARLIER: Timed to coincide with the the May Day public holiday - the Territory's version of Labour Day - the prison officers will walk off the job for 12 hours. 

It's understood they are "furious" about the four-year wage freeze and the "lack of resources within Corrections". 

"NT Corrections is at crisis levels," a union spokesperson said. 

The officers will walk off at 7am outside the Darwin Correctional Centre on Monday, before later attending the May Day March through the city at 10.30am. 

The march will include Danila Dilba Health Services, NT firefighters and other United Workers Union members. 

DANILA DILBA WORKERS PROTEST EBA OFFER

DANILA Dilba health workers staged a noisy lunchtime protest Wednesday criticising the organisation’s failure to resolve a long-running enterprise agreement wage dispute.

Rallying around a giant inflatable rat named ‘Scabby’, United Workers Union members called for Danila Dilba management to settle the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement that has dragged on since 2019.

The Fairwork Commission approved the protected action in February, making Danila Dilba the first Aboriginal community controlled health service in Australia to have a protected action approved.

United Workers Union members approved the Enterprise Agreement in 2019 but the Fairwork Commission identified some concerns and it was then withdrawn by Danila Dilba, who instead paid staff a 2.5 per cent wage increase.

The more than 100 Danila Dilba employees affected have not had a pay rise since.

Danila Dilba protest April 2022

The agreement applies to all health workers at Danila Dilba including doctors and nurses.

Doctors and nurses are not involved in the protected action.

Negotiations were put on ice during the Covid pandemic and according to UWU NT secretary Erina Early it has been two-and-a-half years since they received a pay-rise.

She said a change in management at Danila Dilba saw negotiations resume but they have broken down over the provision of back-pay.

Danila Dilba protest April 2022

Danila Dilba has offered employees 12 per cent pay rise over four years, beginning with a five per cent pay rise this year followed by annual increases of 2.5 per cent, 2.5 per cent and 2 per cent.

Speaking after the release of Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing the cost of living in the Northern Territory had increased by 5.1 per cent in the March quarter, Ms Early said Danila Dilba’s failure to return the back-pay was “wage theft”.

“Some people have lose $5000, some have lost $10,000 in back pay alone which includes loss of superannuation,” she said.

“We want backpay of 2.5 per cent a year which is 5 per cent since the original Enterprise Bargaining Agreement was scrapped.

Danila Dilba protest April 2022

“They’ve really had enough because they’re the ones who have been on the frontline during Covid and been caring for the community and this is how they’re being treated.

“This is not impacting on patient care. That’s our members first priority.”

Danila Dilba employee and Union Delegate Jo Angeles said employees had held-off on pay negotiations during Covid.

“We did the right thing by the community during Covid but now it’s time to settle this,” she said.

“Costs are going up. Expenses are going up and we’re not receiving a pay increase to match.”

Danila Dilba chief executive Rob McPhee said negotiations were ongoing.

“These negotiations continue to be productive and are a genuine attempt to finalise the EA,” he said.

“We appreciate that the current EA has taken some time and we are very keen to have this resolved in a way that benefits both our staff and the ongoing sustainability of the organisation.”

EARLIER, FEB 4: DANILA Dilba staff have launched protective action against the organisation and, if successful, will become the first Aboriginal community controlled health service in Australia to do so.

The United Workers Union NT says the Danila Dilba ­enterprise agreement negotiations started in 2018 and was voted up by staff a year later.

However, the Fair Work Commission had concerns with conditions in the proposal.

It was withdrawn by Danila Dilba and staff instead paid a 2.5 per cent wage increase in 2019. Staff have not had a wage increase since.

In 2020 the UWUNT and Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation lodged a majority support application in the FWC to resume enterprise agreement negotiations.

On the change of chief executive at Danila Dilba, discussions started ­between the health service and the UWU, with the union lodging a protected industrial action ballot in ­December 2021. The application was approved by the FWC.

The union said in January, Danila Dilba offered a 2 per cent wage increase from 2022 to ’25 and an EA with a 10 per cent wage increase over four years.

UWUNT branch secretary Erina Early said union members were furious with the offer and were seeking a 2.5 per cent wage increase each year until 2023.

“It is time for Danila Dilba to listen to their workers as they feel undervalued,” Ms Early said.

Danila Dilba staff, who requested to remain anonymous, said they were exhausted with the processes.

“If DDHS management value their staff, then they should show it by ­accepting the EA and agree to pay our salary increase,” a staffer said.

“We deserve better. No wage ­increase in over two years is a complete shame job, we are not happy with management and the board,” another staffer said.

“We’re exhausted and no longer ­employer of choice within Aboriginal health,” said another.

“We have … had enough.”

According to the UWUNT, depending on classification, pharmacists would miss out on between $8400 and $9800, ancillary bus drivers between $3700 and $4300, and Aboriginal health practitioners between $3700 and $7800 if they accepted Danila Dilba’s current 2025 proposal.

Danila Dilba would not comment, citing it was not appropriate at this time.