Liam McNally
Melton council employees stepped up their industrial action by walking off the job on Wednesday, May 25.
Since March, Australian Services Union (ASU) members who work for the council have been protesting wages and staff shortages by stopping school-time parking patrols, issuing notices to comply, and after-hours stray dog pickups, as well as attaching union campaign materials on walls, shelves, and in areas normally used for council signage.
According to ASU, council has offered a “modest” pay increase since the action began, but offset the offer by reducing parental leave by 13 weeks.
The union said Melton council employees earn about 7 per cent less than their counterparts at other growth area councils.
ASU branch secretary Lisa Darmanin said “all Melton staff are asking is for a pay increase to stop rapid rates of staff attrition”.
“Melton staff remain some of the lowest paid of any growth area council in Victoria. Many workers are doing the same duties at other councils for up to 10.5 per cent higher wages,” she said.
“Our members can’t keep delivering vital services when their co-workers are running out the door”.
An staff member, who wanted to remain anonymous, at the walk-off said, “Some might think of us as working for this community but we are in fact of this community … and we want it to prosper”.
“We’re feeling tired, we’re feeling disrespected, and we’re feeling a lack of hope for a brighter future,” the worker said.
“But what we know is that if the community of staff crumbles, the community out there suffers, they will lose the services and supports they rely on and deserve. Today and every day, we fight for us. Today and every day we fight for them.
“Only together, in strength and solidarity will we save the staff community, so we can continue to support the community out there.“
A Melton council spokesperson said council has engaged with the workforce and the “revised offer has been strongly informed by consultation with our staff”.
