Fair Work Commission to get involved in Derwent Valley Council dispute

Derwent Valley Council employees are taking their wage fight to the Fair Work Commission after more than 18 months of negotiations.

Despite workers taking industrial action and voting down the council’s offer of a 2.5 per cent pay increase, management is holding its ground against employees seeking a four per cent wage rise.

Australian Services Union (ASU) Tasmanian Coordinator Samantha Batchelor said its members at the Derwent Valley Council had no option but to lodge an intractable bargaining claim with the Fair Work Commission.

An intractable bargaining claim can be made if the parties involved have failed to reach an agreement after at least nine months of negotiations, which is more than double the time the council and its workers have been embroiled in their wage dispute.

“This will cost the council more on lawyers, money that would be far better in the hands of workers who need it for bread and milk,” Ms Batchelor said.

“It’s a bit rich, that at the very same time, the General Manager’s role is being renamed to a CEO and advertised at $290,000 - $30,000 above the current General Manager salary, which alone equated to an eight per cent wage increase.

“The 1.5 per cent increase to the offer that members/employees are seeking would cost less than half of the GM’s salary alone and ensure every worker in the council gets a fair wage increase.”

ASU Branch Secretary Tash Wark said a council’s workforce was a diverse one, with employees doing everything from “caring for children, cleaning the streets, collecting waste and even removing dead animals from roads".

“The only thing that stinks more than uncollected rubbish is this offer,” Ms Wark said.

“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.”

The ASU said the dispute highlights a broader wage crisis facing all Tasmanian councils.

Derwent Valley Mayor Michelle Dracolis said the nature of her role meant she had no involvement in the dispute between the council and its workers.

“The negotiations underway are entirely operational, and as such, I must place my confidence in the process being followed,” Cr Dracoulis said.

“What I can say is that our people - from the outdoor crews, to the childcare staff, to the administration and customer service teams at the main office - have my greatest respect.

“They keep the organisation moving every single day, often under challenging circumstances.

“I value their contributions deeply.

“I support employees' rights to take protected industrial action, and I hope all parties can work toward a fair and timely resolution.”