Why members called for a Protected Action Ballot at Toowoomba Regional Council 

The Services Union will continue to be by your side through Certified Agreement negotiations and beyond at Toowoomba Regional Council.  When we met with the Council last Friday, we expected the Council would come with a revised offer.  However, the Council maintained its position of 6% in the first year, citing the same old story of financial sustainability even though it continues to pay astronomical amounts each month to contractors for work that could be done by Council staff. 

Members have already raised concerns that the bonus payments being made to trades employees aren’t being replicated elsewhere in the Council. Based on the Council’s own information, the Gender Pay Gap currently sees employees in predominantly female-staffed roles disadvantaged by up to 10%. This will worsen if the Council keeps rewarding one sub-set of employees and doesn’t start distributing increases more equally.

As it stands, you already know your pay rates are lower than any comparable Council. The fact that the Council’s Executive Leadership was noticeably absent for most of last week’s meeting (and the previous meeting) points to an employer with no real motivation to fix its pay and staffing problems. That is why members directed our Union to hold a Protected Action Ballot. If you haven’t already voted, make sure you do so by 5pm this Thursday.

Only members will determine our next steps. If you work with someone who shares your concerns and is not yet a member, encourage them to join today at www.theservicesunion.com.au/tsu/join.