Garbage driver deal delivers empty bins and pay rises for Christmas

The news

Council garbage truck drivers and field staff at a major south-east council have inked a new pay deal after three days of strike action that left tens of thousands of residents’ bins uncollected – some for two weeks running.

The Transport Workers Union and Ipswich City Council touted the deal in separate Saturday morning statements, after Friday’s third 24-hour strike drew support from at least three of the nine elected councillors.

Hundreds of the workers west of Brisbane, across two separate agreements, will see yearly wage increases of 5 per cent, 5 per cent and 3.75 per cent over the three-year deal and a transition to a 36.25-hour working week by July 2026.

Why it matters

The deal saw council lift its previous 12.75 per cent pay rise offer over three years by one percentage point – after seeking intervention from the state industrial umpire on Thursday. Unionised workers had most recently sought 15 per cent.

Strike action affected bin day for the Springfield area to the city’s east the past two Fridays, and from central Ipswich south and west to Amberley on Tuesday, leaving some 60,000 homes and businesses with uncollected general, garden and recycling bins.

The council had been attempting catch-up services – set to continue over coming days – and allowing residents to empty bins for free at its two major waste recovery sites, with some community members stepping in to help those unable to take their own.

What they said

The transport union’s Queensland organising director, Josh Millroy, hailed workers’ efforts to win the concession from council and partially make up for real-wage losses through below-inflation rises in the agreement which expired in October.

“It’s a shame that it took … bins sitting on the streets for the council to come to their senses, but we’re glad they’ve finally come back to the table,” he said. “The message is clear to all councils and waste companies in Queensland.”

The council’s acting chief executive, Matt Smith, said council representatives met with the transport union, Australian Workers’ Union and CFMEU – which cover the affected workers – on Friday in “good faith negotiation” to “bring this to a resolution”.

“This protected industrial action has had a significant impact on Ipswich residents. Council believes it is unfair that residents have been left with the consequences of missed bin services for multiple days right before Christmas,” Smith said.

Another perspective

Mayor Teresa Harding, who as an elected councillor has no role in the negotiations between the council administration and its staff, praised the return of the “amazing” drivers heading into a difficult time for residents to be left without bin collections.

“I have been a union member, have participated in protected industrial action including strike action myself, so I fully respect a union member’s lawful right to do so,” she said.

“I thank Ipswich residents for their patience and understand their frustration. I thank the drivers that have assisted our community immensely with catch-up collection services this week.”