Council workers plotting industrial action

Workers at the Derwent Valley Council are planning to take industrial action following claims from the Australian Services Union (ASU) that upper management refused to meet with them or employees.

The results from a protected ballot indicated that 88 per cent of workers wanted to take industrial action after the council awarded a 2.5 per cent wage increase.

ASU branch secretary Tash Wark said the council’s refusal to meet with its workers or the representative union had meant industrial action was the only option.

“We've been trying for months to meet with Derwent Valley Council - but after failing to respond to our repeated requests to meet, the council awarded workers a 2.5 per cent wage increase, well below the 5.1 per cent that councillors themselves received and 6 per cent that rates have increased,’ Ms Wark said. 

“It's totally unacceptable and our members are understandably responding by seeking protected industrial action.”

A council worker who wished to remain anonymous said the recent wage rise did not match the cost of living increases.

“After 12 months of stalled negotiations, we will start with some low-level work bans by chalking cars and council offices with messages to the community asking them to support us.

“If council management remain unmoved on the offer, we will take further industrial action, inevitably causing disruption to the community, including non-collection of fines, work bans and work stoppages as a last resort.”

Derwent Valley Mayor Michelle Dracoulis and councillors have no involvement in setting worker wages, saying it is instead the responsibility of the municipality's general manager, Ron Sanderson.

“I have the utmost respect for the Derwent Valley Council workforce and I support their right to take action as and when they see necessary,” Cr Dracoulis said.

Mr Sanderson was contacted for comment.