Macedon Ranges Shire council workers stopped work for three hours on Tuesday as part of their campaign for a better work deal.
Major sticking points in negotiations with council are a low pay offer and the union’s claim for extending the phone allowance to casual workers.
A union spokesperson said Macedon Ranges Shire management had offered a pay increase, well below changes in the cost of living, of just two per cent or $26 in the first year of the agreement and 1.85 per cent or $25 in the second.
Over the past 12 months, the cost of living has increased by 6.1 per cent.
Tuesday’s stop work was the start of The Australian Services Union protest actions, which will include periodic bans on street sweeping, picking up litter around council buildings, and a ban on mowing the entrances to the towns within the municipality.
Residents and visitors to the shire will also see campaign signs on council vehicles and workers wearing union badges instead of their usual council name badges.
Australian Services Union secretary Lisa Darmanin said management had pushed union members to take industrial action by rejecting their reasonable and legitimate claims.
“Members of the Australian Services Union want to finalise enterprise agreement negotiations, but they are determined to get a fair pay rise and better treatment for casual workers,” Ms Darmanin said.
“Workers at Macedon Ranges Shire are struggling with the increased cost of living like everyone else, and the current pay offer from Macedon Ranges management isn’t good enough.
“Workers at Macedon Ranges Shire are just looking for a fair day’s pay to accompany the fair day’s work they put in collecting bins, looking after parks, and the hundreds of other jobs that keep the shire running.
“Macedon Ranges management can avoid highly disruptive industrial action by making a fair pay offer and recognising the cost for casuals of using their personal phones for work.”
The union will meet with council management again tomorrow for futher negotiations.
Council has been contacted for comment.
