It pays to be united

The USU has now had the opportunity to study the Destination 2036 Outcomes Report. If implemented, the recommendations of "Destinations 2036" will be the biggest threat to local government jobs and services in the history of Local Government in NSW, far worse than forced amalgamations and boundary changes alone. 

On 17 and 18 August 2011 an event called “Destination 2036” was conducted by the NSW Department of Local Government. Those invited to set the blueprint for the next 25 years in local government included Mayors, General Managers, CEOs, Executives of the Local Government and Shires Associations and the CEO of the Local Government Managers Association of NSW. 

Unions, workers and community members were left out ... USU General Secretary Graeme Kelly only attended as an observer after intense lobbying of the Department of Local Government and others. 

The government was planning the next 25 years without any input from the people who work in local government or the community.

The event was a workshop with stated purposes including “to create a bold vision – a preferred future for local government” and “to develop and get excited about a short term Action Plan”. The outcomes of the workshop were published in a document called Destination 2036 Outcomes Report. 

Some key concerns include:
Workers left out! No Union representation on the Steering Committee
A steering Committee is to be formed including representatives of the Department of Local Government, employer associations and the Local Government Manager’s Association.  At present there is no provision for any Union representation. The USU calls for representatives of all 3 Local Government industry unions be included on the steering committee.

Communities left out! No voice for local communities
The changes suggested by the Destination 2036 Report will have major impacts on local communities.  The USU calls on the state government to form an Upper House committee to conduct an inquiry and accept submissions from all stakeholders who may be affected by the suggested changes.

Amalgamations – Is bigger, better?
The report suggests that “Sydney could effectively operate with 6 Councils”.  That means 41 councils amalgamating to 6 - this would lead to massive job loss and a loss of services to local communities.

The report suggests a cost benefit analysis be undertaken before Council amalgamations or boundary changes occur.  This is a good idea and one which should precede even voluntary amalgamations and/or boundary changes. The Union suggests that the questions of who will conduct such an analysis, and the criteria for the analysis, need to be addressed first, and are a suitable subject for the upper house inquiry the Union proposes.

Outsourcing jobs
The Report suggests Sharing of Services on a regional and State basis, Alternative methods of local governance and Alternative service delivery as possible solutions to finacial difficulties of councils.

These suggestions will lead to a reduction of worker numbers via resource sharing up to and including outsourcing. 

Ripping apart regional communities
In regional NSW in particular, Councils and other local authorities such as County Councils are often the biggest employers in the community. The potential loss of jobs will further reduce population in rural communities and lead to fewer job opportunities in areas where regular (non-seasonal) work is scarce.  This will increase the difficulty of retaining workers and their families locally and increase the trend for people to relocate to coastal and metropolitan areas. 

Circle of Job Destruction
Loss of jobs = reduction in services = reduction in local income = further job losses and reduction in services and local knowledge as a result of migration to larger centres.

Any action taken which leads to a reduction in jobs will have a dire impact on communities - in particular regional ones. This is not in the best interests of the state of NSW, Councils, Workers, Ratepayers, or the public in general.

Corporations kill community services
Federal and State Government services, such as Telstra and the railways, that have been corporatised have either been sold off, or had massive job cuts and are run for profit, rather than as a social and community service.  If corporate models are adopted, services such as libraries, pools, museums and galleries might be lost.

Corporate models for larger Councils, with General Managers as CEOs
There are General Managers in NSW now receiving more money than the Prime Minister of Australia.  The move towards corporate structures and the appointment of CEOs will only lead to a further wages breakout at the top level, leaving less money for community services.

Mega councils mean mega dollars for CEOs and General Managers

No accountability! Regional Organisations of Councils (ROCs) as providers of service delivery and procurement
Councils are regulated by the NSW Local Government Act and are answerable to their respective communities via their Councillors and Council meetings.  ROCs do not have the same accountability.  People and groups are not guaranteed a fair go, or even a right to address a ROC, whose decisions may impact upon them and/or their community.  Service delivery and procurement by ROCs will lead to a reduction and circumvention of existing rights, local decision making and democracy.

Fire sale! Sale of Council Services and establishment of Council enterprises
This means outsourcing of services with only those services that are profitable being purchased.  Council is then left with those services that cannot generate a profit and whose social value to the community is important.  Services such as pools, libraries, museums and galleries etc, very rarely approach cost neutrality and generally must be heavily subsidised in order to exist.

How much say regarding service level availability and cost will communities get in the future when services are outsourced?

Your Award under attack!
Employees of any Council, or part of a Council, which becomes a corporate entity may lose the protection of the Local Government (State) Award and be captured by the Federal industrial relations system instead.

The report suggests a review of the Award to “ensure that it enables flexible staffing arrangements”.  These changes will not be about increasing pay and conditions or providing or retaining job security.  When employers talk about flexibility they mean flexibility for themselves, not for employees. The NSW Local Government (State) Award already provides the ability for parties to enter into flexible working arrangements by agreement. 

Any attack on your award is an attack on your working conditions and wages.

A full copy of the report can be DOWNLOADED HERE

WHAT YOU CAN DO!
The USU has commenced a campaign to achieve the best possible results for our membership from the “Four year action plan” proposed to be formulated and implemented by the end of 2011 by Don Page, Minister for Local Government. 

Over the coming weeks we will be holding meetings with members across NSW. Members can join our campaign by:

1.     Download and sign this petition
2.     Raising the issue with your local councillors and your local State Member of Parliament
3.     Reading our weekly updates on this campaign

Attachments:

Member Bulletin 13 October 2011

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