Industrial action between Australian Services Union workers and Macedon Ranges Shire Council intensified last week, with union members stopping work on internal council operations and grass cutting across the shire.
Workers voted to enact bans on internal meetings, including briefings from the chief executive, as well as a ban on reading or responding to emails from the chief executive and group managers and refraining from responding to non-urgent requests from councillors.
Last month union members stopped work for three hours as part of a pay dispute with council, arguing the pay raise offered was far below the rising consumer price index.
Australian Services Union secretary Lisa Darmanin said the latest bans were a proportionate escalation by union members to demonstrate their resolve to get a fair pay increase.
“Management is yet to make a wage offer that is acceptable to union members to keep up with the cost of living at Macedon Ranges Shire [Council],” she said.
“This escalation in industrial action would have been unnecessary if Macedon Ranges Shire management had taken the demand for a fair deal seriously.
“As well as disrupting internal council operations, union members at Macedon Ranges Shire will be more public in their campaign for a fair deal.
“Handing out flyers and speaking to service users and residents about the enterprise agreement campaign are just some of the extra actions members of the union will take.
“Management can avoid highly disruptive industrial action that has a greater impact on residents of the shire by making a wage offer that’s acceptable to union members.”
Council last month offered staff a two per cent pay increase, amounting to $27 per week in the first year of the new agreement, followed by 1.85 per cent increases or $26 per week for the following three years.
Council corporate director Adele Drago-Stevens said council remained confident of coming to an agreement with the union.
“Negotiations with staff and the unions have been progressing as expected. The negotiations are ongoing and all parties are bargaining in good faith,” she said.
“Many claims have already been agreed and council is confident we will be able to reach agreement with staff without the need for ongoing protected industrial action.
“Council is working to ensure the impact on the community is minimised and that our services are maintained to expected levels.”
