Potholes will go unfilled, parks unmowed, and ‘rhyme time’ will be cancelled at libraries in Noosa for the next two days after the council took the step of locking out its entire workforce for two days – just before Labour Day.
Over 100 workers at Noosa Council represented by the Australian Workers’ Union and the Services Union will lose two day’s pay during a cost of living crisis after the council informed them they would not be required to turn up to work on Thursday 1 May and Friday 2.
Noosa Council CEO Larry Sengstock said, “I have notified the unions and our staff that any employee who is a member of the unions and takes protected industrial action from their first shift on Thursday will be asked to leave work and will not be paid during the period of the lockout.”
“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,” he said.
Each worker, who earns roughly $60,000 a year, will lose two entire days of pay.
Michael Anderson, an organiser from the Australian Workers’ Union who represents these workers, said, “A lock out is an extreme tactic used by an employer to intimidate their workforce into accepting a bad offer they do not want to accept.”
“It is about depriving workers who are already earning some of the lowest wages you could find at a Council in South East Queensland of two days of pay ahead of a long weekend.
“It’s mean, it’s nasty, and it’s designed to punish workers who have found their voice and are asking for their fair share.
“The Australian Workers’ Union will not accept such heavy handed tactics from this employer, or any other – all this has done is take this industrial dispute to a place that Noosa residents cannot afford.
“Noosa Council could end this dispute at any time and get services back online across our region by swallowing their pride and making their workforce a fair pay offer that keeps pace with the cost of living and the wages offered by neighbouring Councils.
“Our members live in this community, but with these wages they won’t for much longer. The people who do the grunt work to keep Noosa thriving are drawing a line, they’ve being priced out, they’re making real life decisions and soon they will just leave.
“Noosa Council has a vacancy rate of 20 per cent, that’s one in five positions, no-one can afford to live in this community on these wages.
“Our members will meet to discuss their employer locking them out of their livelihood today and from the phone calls I’ve already had I can tell you it ain’t going to be pretty.”
Employees who take part in protected industrial action will be required to stay away from Council premises, return their commuter use vehicles and not utilise Council ICT and technology systems.
Employees locked out shall be required to recommence work duties at usual start times Tuesday 5 May.
Noosa Council CEO Larry Sengstock said, “We provided a revised pay offer last week of an additional half a per cent to take the total wage increase to 14 per cent over three years, which was rejected by the unions.”
The CEO said it’s believed about 20 per cent of Council staff are involved in the protected industrial action.
“Much of our workforce continue to diligently fulfill their duties to keep operations going,” he said.
“This certified agreement aims to ensure job security, maintain existing services, and reward our staff during a challenging economic period. We also need to balance ratepayer money as wages have the potential to impact general rates,” he said
“The unions are fully aware that we don’t have a bottomless pit of funds and we have advised them that it’s not appropriate to use cash reserves to fund wage increases,” he said.
Mr Sengstock said in accordance with s.236 of the Industrial Relations Act 2016 the lockout doesn’t affect the continuity of employment for those staff.
Council respects an employee’s rights to participate in protected industrial action and it will not prejudice any employee because of their intention to take part in the notified action.
“I acknowledge that this will unfortunately further impact service delivery and we seek the community’s understanding at this time.
“We remain committed to finding a compromise that is financially sustainable for our organisation,” Mr Sengstock said.
Council and the unions resume conciliatory talks with a meeting before the Queensland Industrial Relations Commissioner on Wednesday 7 May.
