Elsie Lange
Macedon Ranges council workers will intensify for their campaign for better wages and conditions this week.
An Australian Services Union (ASU) statement said workers would demonstrate the value of the work they perform to management and the “unfairness” of the current wage offer from council.
“Workers will step up their efforts to inform the public about their enterprise agreement campaign and place bans on many internal meetings, including CEO briefings and a ban on reading or responding to emails from the CEO or group managers or responding to non-urgent requests from councillors,” the union said.
“These new bans, voted for by members of the union at Macedon Ranges Shire, are designed to disrupt the council and are in addition to existing bans that have been in place for the last two weeks.”
ASU secretary Lisa Darmanin said management was yet to make an acceptable offer to keep up with the cost of living.
As well as disrupting internal council operations, Ms Darmanin said union members would be more public in their campaign.
“[They will be] handing out flyers and speaking to service users and residents about the enterprise agreement campaign are just some of the extra actions members of the union will take,” she said.
“Dixon Field surrounds, Gisborne Shire Office entrance and surrounds, Gisborne Botanic Gardens, Robertson Street in Gisborne, and exercise areas in all gardens will not be mown.
“Through this escalation, management and the residents of Macedon Ranges Shire will see the unfairness of the current wage offer and the determination of ASU members to get a fair deal.
“Management can avoid highly disruptive industrial action that has a greater impact on residents of the Shire by making a wage offer that’s acceptable to union members.”
Macedon Ranges council has been contacted by Star Weekly and will respond to the ASU’s claims as soon as possible.
