GREATER Dandenong Council employees are fighting for free parking when they relocate to the proposed $63 million municipal building in central Dandenong.
The offices will house more than 300 council staff from 2014. During the day, all but one of the on-site car spaces will be public parking. The exception will be a car space for the mayor.
Australian Services Union assistant branch secretary Richard Duffy said the council was offering free staff parking in a nearby multi-storey car park for the first 12 months. After that time, workers would be required to pay.
“The ASU thinks that it is ridiculous the council have all these plans for new offices but haven’t been able to provide decent parking facilities for their workers,” Mr Duffy said.
Greater Dandenong acting chief executive Mark Doubleday said the council “does not wish to conduct [enterprise bargaining] negotiations through the media”.
“With many workers in central Dandenong having to pay for car parking, the council has had to consider the fairness and equity of this request.”
He said the parking arrangements would be “more than adequate” to cater for demand.
