Brimbank council workers walked off the job for four hours on Tuesday and imposed indefinite work bans on council services as enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) negotiations escalate.
In a series of rolling stoppages, waste service workers began the strike for four hours from 8.57am; other outdoor operations will cease from 11.30am and indoor staff – including staff at the Sunshine and Keilor municipal offices, leisure centre and libraries – will stop at 1pm.
Meanwhile, the Australian Services Union (ASU) has extended industrial action and has imposed indefinite bans on:
• Rubbish collection and street cleaning work;
• Issuing infringement notices in selected areas;
• Mowing selected parks and sporting grounds;
• Repairing or cleaning equipment; and
• Reading and responding to emails from managers, directors and the chief executive.
Today’s industrial action will be the second strike in recent weeks after depot staff downed tools at the end of September and halted rubbish collection.
Council staff and the ASU are concerned about a clause in the draft EBA which refers to the introduction of GPS on council vehicles, plant and equipment, and the introduction of surveillance technology.
ASU organiser Russell McGregor said the outsourcing of council services was also concerning staff.
Council corporate and community relations director Helen Morrissey said the protected action applied only to union members and stressed that not all council staff would be on strike today.
Ms Morrissey apologised to ratepayers over the disruptions to council services.
“As with the recent two-day action, only a small section of our workforce was striking,” Ms Morrissey said.
“The priority for council is delivering value for money to our community and providing fair conditions for staff.
“Brimbank City Council employees already enjoy some of the best employment conditions in the local government sector and will continue to do so under council’s proposed new agreement.”
