Councils want LGEA members to work longer hours,
for less pay
Negotiations commenced today for the next Local Government State Award. Each of the parties tabled their log of claims for the Award, and we programmed some dates for the bargaining process through to June 2023, when we hope to finalise the new deal.
Unfortunately, LGNSW’s log of claims was most disappointing.
Rather than putting forward positive, progressive claims that might assist the industry in attracting and retaining skilled professionals, councils have instead taken their well-worn path of proposing significant cuts to employment conditions.
Click here to see their log of claims
- it includes proposals such as:
- deletion of the CLA
- the introduction of a 38-hour week for all employees
- reducing the scope of the consultative committee
- cutting entitlements on termination
- reducing on-call benefits
Regrettably, not one single claim will do anything to help the industry to tackle its most pressing issue - the chronic skill shortage that is gripping local government.
Councils across the state are losing the battle to attract and retain skilled professionals, resulting in record numbers of unfilled positions, which is, in turn, causing unsustainable workloads and unhealthy workplaces for our members.
Renegotiating a new State Award presents the industry parties with an invaluable opportunity to try and fix some of the industry’s significant attraction and retention issues. It defies logic that, when inflation is at record levels, and the labour market has never been tighter, LGNSW seems intent on trying to find ways of making the problem even worse.
The LGEA will always work hard to defend your employment conditions against attacks like this. Together with the other local government unions, we will pursue positive change through the upcoming bargaining process. However, we are only as strong as the members we represent, and we need your help in encouraging your colleagues to join the LGEA to ensure we achieve the best State Award possible.