The prolonged industrial dispute between Brimbank council and its staff has cost ratepayers almost $200,000 in legal fees and contractors.
Brimbank council forked out $83,113.76 for legal fees incurred during Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) negotiations and a further $105,563.27 for contractors to collect the garbage, mow parks, answer
phones and collect street bins because of strike action.
Council staff voted in favour of a revised EBA at the end of December after 11 months of negotiations and two rounds of industrial action, including strikes.
Staff, who voted down the council’s original offer in November, agreed to a revised offer that removed a proposed outsourcing clause, scrapped a wage increase clause that called for pay rises to be set at CPI or under, and improved parental leave conditions. Wage increases will be backdated to October 1, 2014.
The council succeeded in retaining a clause to introduce GPS devices on council vehicles, plant and equipment, and surveillance technology.
Corporate and community relations director Helen Morrissey said the new agreement would come into effect after gaining Fair Work Commission approval.
“Enterprise bargaining in any organisation as large and diverse as Brimbank city council is difficult, but this was a particularly difficult EBA process,” she said.
“The Australian Services Union (ASU) changed its industrial organiser late in negotiations, added additional items to the log of claims and started the process for taking industrial action.
“As a result, council was compelled to engage an experienced industrial relations lawyer to help finalise negotiations.
“While there were unplanned costs with the EBA they have been offset by a number of factors, including the timing of the agreement and non-payment to striking workers.”
ASU organiser Russell McGregor said the union was pleased with the result, despite the protracted negotiations.
