Mackay's Best Offer II: With a Vengeance

The Services Union met with Mackay Regional Council last week for further negotiations towards your new Certified Agreement (CA).

Despite having tabled its “very best offer” at a previous meeting, the Council tabled another “very best offer”. And like most sequels, it might appear better than the original at first glance but comes up short on closer analysis.

The Stream A offer is as follows:

  • Year One (1.7.24): 5% increase
  • Year Two (1.7.25): $1200 increase to base salary (if fortnightly pay accepted) plus 4.5% increase
  • Year Three (1.7.26): 3.5% increase
The offer for Streams B and C is as follows:
  • Year One (1.7.24): $1500 uplift to base salary plus 5% increase plus introduction of increments and Locality Allowance
  • Year Two (1.7.25): $1200 increase to base salary (if fortnightly pay accepted) plus 4.5% increase
  • Year Three (1.7.26): 3.5% increase
The offer includes an increase to 12 weeks for Primary Carer Parental Leave, and an increase to Bereavement Leave (three days plus additional travel days if approved). The Council also stated that pursuit of additional outstanding claims may impact the pay offer.

Consider this offer with these points in mind:
  • Over the last three years your pay increased by 7.5% in total while aggregate inflation raged at a total of 15.1%. Does this pay offer address that shortfall?
  • Does $1200 (or $23.08 per week) adequately compensate for the transition to fortnightly pays?
  • Prior to the current Determination, your agreement had a CPI adjuster to protect you against high inflation – should we pursue something similar in your new CA?
  • Do you want to pursue outstanding items such as a standard nine-day fortnight before we finalise the pay offer?
Our Union will convene member meetings shortly to gather your feedback. Stay tuned for further updates.

If you have any questions, contact your Workplace Delegates Kate Cotter (Gordon Street/Sarina), Kendel Russo, (Gordon Street), Anna Kahler, Vicki Booth (Jubilee Centre), Aaron Ward (Paget Depot), Kath Evans (Gordon White Library), Shannon DeSilva (Dudley Denny Library), and, Sharon Stephen (Mirani Depot).

If you have any colleagues who aren’t members and want a CA that maintains the value of your pay now and into the future, encourage them to join online. 

ASU is the Union fighting for workers at Mackay Regional Council.