Award "Modernisation" - Local Government Award Under Threat
By Ben Kruse
USU General Secretary
May 22, 2009
The federal and state governments are still to finalise the exclusion of NSW local government from the federal industrial relations system. Meanwhile the Australian Local Government and Shires Association has drafted a Local Government Modern Award which will apply to local government in NSW if we do not win the exclusion. The USU attended an award modernisation conference in Melbourne on 20 May 2009. At that meeting the LGSA and other local government employers made claims for a national local government award that could see the stripping of safety net wages and conditions.
Conditions and Wages Under Threat The LGSA application sets out the wages and conditions they want for the proposed national local government modern award.
The conditions are well below current NSW local government award conditions and include;
38 hour week for all employees (abolition of 35 hour week)
Up to a 30% reduction in award rates of pay for NSW council workers!
No industry consent based percentage general increases
Abolition of award based salary systems
Option for wages to be paid monthly
Reduction of all penalties to time and a quarter and time and a half, no penalty rates for leisure services, library services and community services.
Overtime reduction to 1.5% for the first three hours (as opposed to two hours )with double time thereafter
Sick leave reduced to 10 days per year
Abolition of paid maternity leave
Abolition of union picnic day
"Award Flexibility" clause facilitating individual variations of award provisions
Removal of right to arbitration of disputes (consent arbitration only)
Redundancy - reduction to National Employment Standard maximum of 16 weeks
Introduction of Award based "sleep over" provisions on half pay
To date council workers in NSW have won interim protection against Modern Local Government Awards through the successful 2008 USU campaign for the decorporatisation of NSW councils. However, decorporatisation is an interim solution and full protection will only be achieved by NSW local government being excised from the Federal industrial relations system.
"At this stage it does appear that the Federal Government and State Governments will fulfil their commitments to exclude NSW councils from the Modern Award process" said General Secretary Ben Kruse, "We certainly hope this will be the case and will campaign to secure this outcome". Immediate Threat to Council Corporations and Associated Entities The increasing trend towards the establishment of council owned corporations and entities such as strategic alliances and Regional Organsiations of Councils (ROCS) places many workers under immediate threat of Modern Award coverage unless the federal government also excludes council corporations and associated entities from the federal Modern Award. This is a looming threat for members engaged in regional water services whose roles are under review through the State Government Water Inquiry.
The issue is also of concern for several hundred child care workers engaged by the Penrith Child Care Co-operative together with employees of Ripples Aquatic Centre and other local government associated entities. The USU has urged the federal government to include all such entities in the excision provisions.
USU Negotiations with the Federal Government Negotiations continue between the United Services Union and the Federal Government. General Secretary Ben Kruse has pressed Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard to fulfil the Federal Government's pre-election promise to excise NSW Local Government from the Federal Industrial Relations System at the request of the State Premier. The Union has also urged the State Government to hold firm on the commitment to maintain State Awards.
USU Is Lobbying Canberra A lobby of rank and file USU members led by USU President Steve Birney and General Secretary Ben Kruse will address federal Labor parliamentary representatives concerning the issue at Parliament House, Canberra on Wednesday 27 May.
Decision Due Soon The Union understands that a final decision on the future of the State Award is due to be made shortly.
Get Involved: Contact Your State & Federal MP NOW!
The Union will keep members posted on the progress of negotiations with both the State and Federal Governments.
With only a few weeks to go members can help campaign to save the State Award by contacting federal and state MPs by sending a message here or contacting our Support Team on 1300 136 604.
