Council staff downs tools over lack of parking

By Nicole Williams
PARKING issues have already started to emerge over Greater Dandenong’s new municipal building with staff striking over a lack of supplied car spaces.
Staff from all council departments have already implemented work bans and will walk off the job today (Thursday) after Enterprise Bargaining Agreement negotiations stalled.
Current work bans include administration bans, no emptying of bins in public areas and a stop to maintenance of parks and ovals.
Council management and Australian Services Union have been negotiating since February.
Australian Services Union assistant secretary Richard Duffy said the work bans were just the start.
“Management are offering a very unfair pay rise for the life of the new agreement, and have further infuriated staff with news that employees will have to pay for parking in the new council building,” he said.
“Not only are they offering a poor wage increase, but they are now looking to make money off their own workers, who have had enough.”
Council had proposed to offer employees car parking in a nearby multi-level car park once the new municipal building is open, however it would be at the staff member’s own expense.
Greater Dandenong CEO John Bennie said staff could choose whether to pay or find alternative transport.
“With regard to parking, no staff member is ’forced’ to pay for car parking,” he said.
“A proposal has been structured and presented that aims to achieve equity among all parkers in central Dandenong; choice for council staff; and incentives for those same staff to embrace green travel principles.”
Mr Duffy said any industrial action could be easily stopped by the CEO.
“If the CEO puts a decent pay offer to employees and committed to not forcing people to pay for parking, the dispute would be finished,” he said.
“If residents have any issues, they should contact the CEO and let him know they are disappointed with what is being offered.”
Mr Bennie said council was offering fair and competitive annual pay increases over the next three years and above the annual average CPI percentage increase of 1.2 per cent.
“We have a responsibility to the community to deliver quality and cost efficient services – and our staff have always supported this objective,” he said.
“We also have a responsibility to our staff to offer competitive rates of pay and attractive conditions of employment – and we aim to uphold that objective.”