Noosa Council workers chanted “CEO has got to go” and “executive team takes the cream” in another rally for fair pay in front of Council Chambers in Tewantin on Thursday 1 May.
This came after Noosa Council chief executive officer Larry Sengstock advised unions that staff involved in further protected industrial action from Thursday 1 May would be subject to an unpaid lockout until Sunday night.
More than 100 workers represented by the Australian Workers’ Union and the Services Union, who earn roughly $60,000 a year, will lose two day’s pay during a cost of living crisis.
“It’s unfortunate it has come to this, but while we respect an employee’s right to participate in the notified action, equally as an employer, we are taking the necessary steps under the legislation,” Mr Sengstock said.
“The impacts of the ongoing industrial action on the community have led us to making the difficult decision of taking firmer action.”
During the rally, Noosa Today spoke with Michael Anderson, an organiser from the Australian Workers’ Union who represents these workers.
“The CEO is just trying to intimidate them to accept a poor offer that’s on the table,” Mr Anderson said.
“It’s not addressing their cost of living pressure. It’s not providing them a livable wage. They’re four per cent behind neighbouring local councils. The CEO has refused to meet with us since last Tuesday. Their preference is to force it through to arbitration in August.”
Jess Cassidy from The Services Union said the response from Council has been unexpected.
“We expected to bargain within good faith and also have fair outcomes for our members, and the CEO’s not even come close,” Ms Cassidy said.
“Larry, the CEO, has made it very clear that negotiations are over.”
Mr Anderson and Ms Cassidy said they were both extremely proud of the workers for standing up for themselves.
“We’re extremely proud of them, especially heading into the Labour Day weekend, which should be a time to celebrate worker’s rights and their achievements,” Mr Anderson said.
Ms Cassidy said, “It’s absolutely hard for these guys. They understand the constraints that are given to them at the moment, and to show solidarity amongst everybody, they need to stand together and continue to not cross the picket line.”
“What the guys have also done is reached out to organisations such as a Salvation Army, to provide bread and nonperishable foods. So we’ve got a food pantry starting up at the depot so that we can then supply food to those here today, who are struggling with the cost of living.”
Council and the unions resume conciliatory talks with a meeting before the Queensland Industrial Relations Commissioner on Wednesday 7 May.
In a statement to Noosa Today on Thursday afternoon, Noosa Council CEO Larry Sengstock said the decision to adopt a lockout was largely because the partial protected action that had been accepted over the last few weeks was resulting in staff turning up for work on full pay but not undertaking any of their normal duties.
“The backlog in work had got to a point where we had to take this legislative-supported action to allow us to look at alternative methods of delivering the services that our community expect,” he said.
Mr Sengstock said the reference that workers are losing two days’ pay is not entirely correct.
“Staff are free to exercise their right to take protected industrial action and not be paid or they can return to work and be paid, ” he said.
“As for suggesting it is an extreme tactic, it is our right under the legislation and was only initiated because after offering an additional half a percent wage increase, it was flatly refused by the unions, and we don’t have another meeting scheduled until next week with the Commission.
“The current offer will add millions of dollars to an already tight operational budget,” Mr Sengstock said.
