It pays to be united

The Destination 2036 Report suggests Sharing of Services on a regional and State basis, Alternative methods of local governance and Alternative service delivery as possible solutions to financial difficulties of councils.

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

Rate pegging, funding for Local Government and cost shifting should be dealt with by the O'Farrell Government before any decisions are made that impact on workers and communities.

The USU is pressing the O'Farrell Government to address these issues of rate pegging, funding for Local Government and cost shifting as a priority.

Many of the ideas being suggested are taken from England whose record is appalling when it comes to job security, employment conditions and wages.

We were never told before the election what the O'Farrell Government had planned for Local Government in NSW. It seems the O'Farrell Government believe they have a mandate to do whatever they like!

The English model promotes (1):

•   Joint management arrangements-including a joint chief executive and a single management team: Note that the identified benefits from this include financial savings from staff reductions and reduced barriers to further shared services;

•   Shared back-office services, in particular finance, HR and IT: Note savings can be achieved through fewer numbers of HR staff;

•   Shared front-office services in particular waste collection, social care and customer services which includes library services;

•   Outsourcing services and joint ventures with the private sector: a large majority of councils in  England outsource services to council trading companies (e.g. grounds, building, highways and vehicle maintenance) as well as to private sector companies (e.g. most commonly for waste collection and social care). Groups of councils are also entering into partnerships with large private sector companies;

•    Sharing expertise of specialist staff. Councils in England are increasingly sharing specialist staff, in areas like law, construction and flood planning;

•    Shared procurement, capital and assets.
These examples are only the tip of the iceberg.

SIGN THE PETITION
If you haven't already, c'mon and sign the USU petition which is available on our website HERE or contact your local Union Organiser for more details. Have your say now!  

1.      Examples taken from Destination 2036-Corrin Moffat-Discussion Paper-Department of Local Government

Attachments:

Members Bulletin 11 November 2011

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