FREMANTLE council has moved to strip over-award penalty rates for a large tranche of its staff, a move described by the Australian Services Union as “concerning”.
The council and the ASU’s WA branch have been in negotiations for a new enterprise bargaining agreement for about three months, with a series of staff meetings in the last week hearing the changes would mainly affect part-time and casual workers at the Leisure Centre, Library and Arts Centre.
ASU assistant branch secretary Jill Hugo told the Herald the council also wanted to extend the hours considered a working day before penalty rates kicked in, while protections for staff made redundant or “restructured” would be reduced. This comes amidst a number of restructures within the council as it seeks to reduce its middle-management tier.
“It is a concern where we find ourselves in negotiation with an employer who want to reduce conditions while only offering a minimal CPI wage increase,” Ms Hugo said.
The existing EBA expires on June 30 and a staff counter-offer had been to roll it over and accept just a CPI increase, but that had been rejected by the council.
Accord
On Thursday acting CEO Glen Dougall emailed all staff outlining the council’s plans to return to the accord. He was also planning two meetings with staff.
“The city is negotiating in good faith with our staff and union representatives on a new EBA,” Mr Dougall told the Herald.
“These negotiations are proceeding in line with the proper Fair Work Australia process.
“This is no different to previous occasions when the EBA was coming to an end and a new one needed to be negotiated. It is not appropriate for the city to comment on the negotiations while they are still underway.”
This year’s negotiations are a little different in one way, with the council outsourcing the negotiations to a contractor.
Councillor Sam Wainwright, an ASU member himself because of his work in the disability sector, said he had concerns about the tactic.
“I was aware of that; it surprises me that an organisation the size of Fremantle would go down that path,” Cr Wainwright said.
“Councillors got a briefing on the process, and while I was not there, had I been I would have queried that at that time.
“I was surprised at the cost, myself.”
by STEVE GRANT