Some strings attached at Toowoomba Regional Council

The Services Union is by your side regardless of how long it takes to negotiate your new Certified Agreement (CA) at Toowoomba Regional Council. Our Union met with the Council again last Friday for further discussions and we now know the Council’s position regarding our claims. 


In short, the Council has rejected almost every claim. As for the few claims it hasn’t outright rejected, the Council doesn’t want to address them within the bargaining process. You can find more details on the Council’s position about each claim here.

The Council has tabled the following pay proposal:

  • Year One - 6%
  • Year Two - 5%
  • Year Three - 4%

A 6% increase in the first year might look attractive…..

BUT Toowoomba Regional Council pay rates are some of the lowest compared to similar Councils. Factor in record inflation resulting in a real cut in your current take-home pay and you’re even further behind.   
 
There is another string attached to the Council’s pay offer. If you want to pursue any of our twenty claims the Council has rejected, it’s going to cost you money in the second and third years. Sound familiar?? The Council rolled out the same line last time, and other Councils have been known to do this too. The good news is that at Councils where members don’t buy into this narrative, we are able to achieve better results.

At your workplace, it’s clear that the Council isn’t interested in dealing with its attraction and retention issues, otherwise it would seriously consider our Four-Day Week trial and improvements to your classification structure, just for starters.

The best way to deliver improvements of this type is by showing the Council that you are prepared to act collectively to achieve what you deserve. You can start that process by:

  • Printing or forwarding this update amongst your colleagues; and
  • Reminding your co-workers who aren’t yet members that now is the time to join our campaign to improve your workplace!
Stay tuned for more information over the coming weeks so that you’re fully informed.

The latest update at Toowoomba Regional Council.