Toowoomba council: 75 per cent of electricians, apprentices have left or want to leave, says Electrical Trades Union

The skilled labour shortage at the Toowoomba Regional Council has reached ‘crisis levels’, with the organisation suffering serious vacancy rates in its electrical stocks.

In the past six months three-quarters of the Toowoomba Regional Council’s electricians and apprentices have either left or say they want to leave, in a skills shortage the union says has reached “crisis levels”.

The council is currently scrambling to retain its existing staff by offering temporary allowances to some electricians, after it revealed seven tradespeople left the organisation since July 1.

This included a week in late October where four staff members quit in just two days, according to the Electrical Trades Union.

Four other vacant positions were already being advertised in that time and just one had been filled, bringing the total number of open spots to nine out of 18.

It comes as the council struggles to retain key workers in an increasingly competitive labour market, with the organisation’s current outdoor staff vacancy rate at just under 15 per cent.

Even more shockingly, ETU Toowoomba and southwest organiser Damian Hewat claimed half of the remaining staff were looking at other opportunities.

Electrical Trades Union members strike outside Toowoomba City Hall.

With electrical tradespeople responsible for the maintenance of critical council infrastructure like water and sewerage pumps as well as traffic lights, Mr Hewat said the situation was dire.

“Four workers in one department are looking for employment elsewhere,” he said.

“When we talk about our safe systems of work with sewage and water, they’re essential services for our community (so the council) will have to pay through the nose for contractors.

“When you lose (nearly) 50 per cent of your trained workforce in six months, you’ve lost your on-call staff (so) their work life balance has gone out the window.”

The council has reportedly offered a temporary allowance for certain levels of tradespeople, something the ETU wants expanded to all staff.

In a scathing email to the council, Mr Hewat argued the organisation was suffering a skills shortage due to the “poor pay levels” offered to workers.

“You currently don’t have (several grades of) electricians because no one with a Queensland electrical licence will lower themselves to the poor pay levels unless they are desperate,” he wrote.

“I have and will continue to promote other industries to our members due to the continued pigheadedness of the TRC being unable to consult with our members.

“I am more than disappointed with this continuing attitude that you are doing our members a favour, when in fact you do not understand the dire consequences of not consulting or considering the whole electrical team as important enough.”

Chief executive Brian Pidgeon (left) and mayor Geoff McDonald. Picture: Kevin Farmer

In response to initial queries about staffing shortages, council chief executive Brian Pidgeon said the organisation offered a number of incentives to attract and retain staff.

“Council offers many incentives for those employees on the award such as workforce flexibility arrangements, superannuation contributions of up to 12.65 per cent, 17.5 per cent leave loading, a robust Employee Assistance Program, time off in lieu and access to a Fitness Passport Program,” he said.

“There is no doubt the labour market continues to be tight across Australia.

“Council is considering further avenues available within budgetary constraints for the attraction and retention of staff.”

Mr Pidgeon confirmed the council had met with the ETU on the matter.

“While noting that the ETU, staff and council have met to discuss this issue it is not appropriate to share details of these discussions, until arrangements have been finalised,” he said.

“Council will continue to review and monitor staff retention for roles that are critical to the delivery of services to the Toowoomba region.”

Mayor Geoff McDonald was contacted for comment.