General News
29 October, 2024
Council facing prospect of further industrial action
Workers continue to make noise about their proposed pay increase.
Mount Isa City Council workers represented by the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) held their first work stoppage on Monday as a prolonged wage dispute continues to escalate.
About 25 frontline workers, ranging from labourers, truck drivers to rubbish tip attendants, stopped work and gathered on the Civic Centre lawn for two hours on Monday to air their frustration after 15 scheduled meetings with council management since March 2022 have failed to deliver a wage increase they believe matches the rising cost of living.
Workers are calling for a three-year enterprise agreement that provides a six per cent pay rise in the first year, five per cent increase in the second year and a four per cent increase in the third year.
The AWU received permission from the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission last week to undertake a range of protected actions, including work stoppages, and Monday was the first available working day to commence any action.
It is understood another work stoppage is planned for today.
The latest work stoppage follows two previous protest actions undertaken by council workers represented by the Services Union, which mostly includes administration and office staff.
The Services Union is asking for the same 6-5-4 per cent increase as the AWU. A non-binding vote, arranged by council management and emailed to workers, trying to gauge support for council management’s current wage offer of a four per cent increase per year for three years, was rejected earlier this month.
Council management has repeatedly cited unpredictable economic conditions, including the scheduled closure of underground copper operations at Mount Isa Mines, as the reason for refusing the unions’ counter offer.
AWU Northern District secretary Jim Wilson said it was extremely rare for local government employees to undertake industrial action.
He said there was likely to be more work stoppages in Mount Isa until an agreement could be reached.
“Our members regret any disruption to the community from these actions – this is a very serious step for them to take,” he said.
“But we can no longer have a situation where the people who work to make the community livable are no longer able to afford to live in that community,” he said.
Mount Isa City Council acting chief executive officer Chad King said council management remained committed to negotiating a viable outcome with its workforce.
“Industrial action such as this is protected under legislation and we support that – we will put in control measures to ensure that any impact on council service delivery is minimised,” he said.