This wage offer stinks and so will the streets: ASU slams Derwent Valley Council
Australian Services Union Vic Tas
The Australian Services Union VIC/TAS Branch says the pay offer put to workers by Derwent Valley Council stinks and shows a complete disregard for the vital work local government employees do.
From Thursday 28 August, ASU members will commence protected industrial action that will disrupt childcare, street cleaning, fire prevention works, and other key community services.
“Council workers do everything from caring for children, cleaning the streets, collecting waste, even removing dead animals from roads,” ASU Branch Secretary Tash Wark said.
“The only thing that stinks more than uncollected rubbish is this dismal offer.
“Council workers are the backbone of local services. They care for our children and keep our neighbourhoods liveable by cleaning up our streets. Yet their wages haven’t kept pace with the cost of living while councillors and executives look after themselves with pay rises. That’s simply not right.
“Derwent Valley Council has a choice, continue down the path of disruption and service cuts, or respect the people who keep the community running with a fair pay offer,” Tash Wark said.
The industrial action includes:
- A full work stoppage across Council sites until 10:30am Thursday.
- Indefinite bans on issuing fines, collecting fees and rates, and processing invoices.
- Indefinite bans on street cleaning, toilet cleaning, mowing, litter collection, and fire prevention works.
- Indefinite bans on overtime, maintenance, and contractor coordination.
The ASU says these actions are a last resort after months of stalled negotiations and that the dispute at Derwent Valley Council highlights the broader crisis facing Tasmanian councils.
“Councils across Tasmania are struggling to deliver services because of recruitment and retention issues. But by refusing to meet basic wage and condition claims Derwent Valley Council are only making the problem worse.
“These challenges begin at every single bargaining table, but they go much further,” Tash Wark said.
The ASU are asking Derwent Valley Council for:
- A fair pay rise of 4.5% or CPI (whichever greater), backdated to 1 July 2024.
- Protecting Early Childhood Education & Care staff so grant funding doesn’t erode the wage offer.
- Rolling the Objectionable Conditions allowance into base salaries.
- Rejecting Council’s bid to reduce existing span-of-hours conditions.
- Ensuring enterprise agreement coverage applies equally to all employees, not excluding executive contracts.
“Working together, councils, unions, and governments can and must deliver fair pay and conditions that will attract and keep the staff needed to support our local communities,” Tash Wark said.
Contact details:
Michael Chaitow
0432 629 342