Pay rise on the cards: Council’s Stream A workers to vote on three-year deal

A breakthrough wage deal for Townsville council workers promises back pay to July, yet the approval process means staff face an extended wait for their money.

The Services Union members back out the front of the council building. Members took industrial action on Wednesday despite council exercising their right to lock out staff. Picture: Josh Mercer

Wage negotiations for Stream A council workers are inching forward with a deal on the table – but it could still be some time before money hits staffs’ wallets.

TSU Regional Organiser Glenn Desmond said Townsville City Council and the union were able to make some progress on the deal, which was six per cent in the first year, four per cent in the second and third years, with back pay to July 1.

“We will be taking the offer out to our members this week to see if they’re happy to endorse it,” Mr Desmond said.

“We think there’s been some positive movement, at the end of the day, no one gets everything they asked for either side, but we think we’ve made some pretty reasonable improvements there.”

While Stream B workers have been able to negotiate and get a pay increase, Stream A talks have taken a long time to get to the stage where an offer can be taken to TSU members. Mr Desmond said it was nice to see forward momentum with these negotiations.

Stream A workers are the services staff at the council, while Stream B are the outdoor staff.

TSU Regional Organiser, Glenn Desmond said there was some positive movement during the most recent negotiations. Picture: Josh Mercer

“At the end of the day, all your members want is a reasonable outcome, a pay increase that’ll help maintain the value of their wages as they move forward,” he said.

“Which is front and centre in everyone’s mind given cost of living issues at the moment.”

In September, TSU members took industrial action despite the council exercising their right to lock out those workers who took part in the protest for 48 hours.

Mr Desmond said that instead of making negotiations harder, it applied a bit of pressure to the council.

“I think they realised that there was a degree of anger from staff, given what’s happened with executive salaries,” Mr Desmond said.

“By no means did we expect to go and get a 60 per cent pay increase, but it’s a bit difficult when you have the employer sitting across the table from you throwing that sort of money around to senior management and telling the workforce you’ve got nothing left for them.”

Mr Desmond said once TSU members vote in favour, the union sits down with the council and makes sure the draft of the document reflected what has been agreed on.

“Once we’re satisfied that everything’s in order, and we’ve done that due diligence, we are then able to give our authorisation to the council to send the document out for a start ballot,” he said.

“Once that ballot is conducted, on a positive result, the document is then referred to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to be certified, and once it’s certified, it’s then in place.”

Originally published as Pay rise on the cards: Council’s Stream A workers to vote on three-year deal