Union members at Noosa Council will strike on Wednesday over a pay dispute, but the council says it has made a “fair and reasonable” offer to workers.
Members of The Services Union (TSU) working at the council will take industrial action in pursuit of an improved enterprise bargaining agreement, it said in a press release.
Lead organiser Tom Rivers called on the council to present a wage offer that kept up with the cost of living and aligned with what other councils were offering.
“Every day, employees at Noosa Council go above and beyond to provide vital services to their local community,” he said.
“They deserve to be compensated fairly for their frontline work, especially given the rising cost of living, because council’s current offer of (yearly increases each February of) 6.5 per cent, 3.5 per cent and 3.5 per cent simply doesn’t cut it.
“Our union has rejected council’s offer and we’ve put forward a fairer proposal that would address the needs of our members and the challenges they face in the current economic climate.
“Our members are committed to the local community but they also need to be paid in a way that acknowledges their high levels of productivity and their significant contribution.”
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Noosa Council CEO Larry Sengstock said his organisation had made a “fair and reasonable” offer that tackles the cost-of-living pressures, recognises the efforts of our staff and is financially responsible.
“Negotiations with the unions have been productive to date and we remain committed to finalising a new enterprise agreement that strikes the right balance for our staff and the community,” he said.
“We’ve listened to feedback from our staff and tabled a generous package of conditions, including an offer of 13.5 per cent over three years.
“Ultimately, we have an obligation to our staff and a responsibility to deliver services and functions to our ratepayers and to spend money wisely.
“We value our staff and the role they play in delivering services to our shire, so it’s disappointing the unions are seeking wage increases that simply are not financially sustainable for the organisation or our ratepayers.
“We have made a generous offer that is above inflation, as indicated by the consumer price index, but is in direct response to local cost-of-living pressures to ensure attraction and retention of staff.
“As part of the next stage, we have made submissions to the Industrial Relations Commission and fully respect the designated process of this independent tribunal to deliver a fair and reasonable outcome for our people.”
The council said it did not expect any major disruptions to the community and would be looking to minimise any issues as they arise.
The TSU said strike action would include a stop-work meeting at 9am on Wednesday outside the Noosa Council chambers in Tewantin.
“Unfortunately strike action is always a last resort but if council management is serious about retaining skilled workers and attracting the best talent moving forward, they need to offer a fair and competitive wage,” Mr Rivers said.
“Without this the council will continue to face workplace attrition and the quality of services and service delivery to Noosa’s ratepayers will inevitably suffer.”
