Townsville City Council: Front-line workers to vote for industrial action, AWU says

Front-line Townsville City Council workers are set to launch industrial action, with a leading union blasting recent executive pay increases.

Front-line workers from Townsville City Council are set to vote in favour of industrial action due to the “chaotic council’s low-ball pay offer”, the Australian Workers Union says. Picture: File photo

Front-line Townsville City Council workers are set to launch industrial action - with the potential impacts ranging from cancelled bin pickups, to complete work stoppages - if their demands aren’t met.

A leading union has blasted Townsville’s local government over both an increase in pay for executives and the salary being paid to its suspended mayor, money that it says should be going to workers.

The Australian Workers Union confirmed on Monday that negotiations with the council had stalled and that hundreds of its members were likely to “vote in favour of industrial action due to their chaotic Council’s low-ball pay offer” on Tuesday.

AWU Northern District Secretary Jim Wilson said council workers were among the lowest paid in North Queensland, “despite Townsville residents paying some of the highest council rates in the region”.

“AWU members have been on the front-line, delivering council services while Townsville’s (suspended) mayor (Troy Thompson) is paid more than $200,000 a year to stay at home,” he said.

“While the council is refusing to deliver a pay rise that equates to $18 a week for workers, executive remuneration has exploded by 79 per cent in the last financial year and money spent on outsourced contracts has increased by 24 per cent in a single year.”

He said it was clear that Townsville City Council did not respect ratepayer money or “the people who are employed to actually deliver services to this great city”.

“Council needs to step up and give these workers the pay rise they deserve without delay.”

The AWU has a membership of hundreds of council workers, with coverage in the vast majority from the Community and Environmental Services, known as Stream B, and Operational-Trades (Stream C).

Industrial action taken by AWU members could include work bans (like refusing to empty bins) or complete work stoppages.

The Services Union, which covers Stream A, is also not ruling out industrial action.

TSU Local Government Lead Organiser Tom Rivers confirmed Monday that it was in involved in the Enterprise-Bargaining Agreement (EBA) process.

“At this stage, The Services Union is still weighing up its options and will talk with members tomorrow (Tuesday) about the council’s offer when we meet with them.”

The AWU says it was focused on ensuring TC workers were able to catch up to the pay and conditions of other councils within the region.

“(Tuesday’s) meeting will see workers vote in favour of commencing the process associated with industrial action being taken in accordance with the Queensland industrial relations framework.”

According to data supplied by AWU, Townsville residents pay rates average $1205 each year while its workers while the Level Three base rate for employees was just $56,653.

In comparison, Hinchinbrook resident paid $1165 in rates, with workers receiving a base rate of $62,713.

Other figures were Charters Towers ($1187, $63,780), Burdekin ($1,191, $65,384) and Cairns ($1072, $73,167).

Townsville City Council said certified negotiations were “ongoing”.

“Council has presented an offer that is in good faith and acknowledges our staff’s work, is financially responsible and focuses on long-term financial stability while maintaining services to our community,” a spokesman said.

“Council remains committed to reaching a fair and reasonable outcome for all parties and respects the right of employees to take protected industrial action, the organisation is taking steps to minimise disruption to essential services and remains committed to constructive negotiations.”

Originally published as Townsville City Council: Front-line workers to vote for industrial action, AWU says