Council rejects roadshow; Union keen for feedback

The Services Union met with Banana Shire Council on Tuesday 6 August with a view to progressing the Certified Agreement negotiations.


The Council tabled a revised pay offer of 6%, 4% and 4% over 3 years, alongside improved CWA and harmonisation across all Award streams of call-outs and overtime.

The offer also included:

  • Apprentice meal reimbursement at $40 per day,  and $280 per week for Block Training;
  • Agreement to modify Contractor clause wording;  
  • Agreement to strengthen Mental Health provision to encompass workplace investigations; and
  • Two additional days’ bereavement leave and one additional week of paid parental leave as previously agreed.

The Council rejected several of our claims including fatigue management, overtime on public holidays, and asbestos, silica, and Dead Animal allowances, along with our claims for allowances to apply across all streams, and for locality allowance to be paid all-purpose and added to wage rates. 

We provided the following counterproposal, with a view to prioritising an acceptable pay increase and finalising negotiations:

  • Pay increase of 7% per year, with CPI safety net on years two and three;
  • Allowances indexed to annual pay increases;
  • Asbestos/Silica allowance for anyone doing related work as directed; and
  • All items previously agreed in-principle to form part of the package
The Council rejected this position, stating it would only increase the apprentice meal allowance to $50 per day and that it would consider our position on the asbestos and silica allowance. 

We put it to the Council to facilitate a combined roadshow to gather staff feedback on both proposals as set out above. Yesterday the Council advised it would not support this proposal, which strongly suggests that the Council is concerned about the type of feedback its position would generate!

Conversely, our Union is keen to hear your views on the best way forward. Stay tuned for details of a members’ meeting where we will decide our next steps. Remind your colleagues about what your Union is doing at the table to benefit all staff, and support your Workplace Delegates in their efforts to support you. If you work with someone who is not yet a member and wants a better deal, joining is easy online.