MPs whack City Hall

MPs call on City Hall to redeploy workers after standing down 576 staff

GEELONG council has been slammed for its “heartless” decision to stand down almost 600 staff and has been called on to redeploy every worker, in a scathing open letter from state and federal MPs.

Six state and federal Labor MPs wrote to the City of Greater Geelong’s 11 councillors and chief executive yesterday, demanding the city rethink last week’s move to indefinitely stand down 576 workers. “Under the guise of COVID-19, it is unacceptable that the

City of Greater Geelong Council has stood down nearly 600 members of its workforce,” the letter notes.

GEELONG council has been slammed for its “heartless” decision to stand down almost 600 staff and has been called on to redeploy every worker, in a scathing open letter from state and federal MPs.

Six state and federal Labor MPs wrote to the City of Greater Geelong’s 11 councillors and chief executive yesterday, demanding the city rethink last week’s move to indefinitely stand down 576 workers.

“Under the guise of COVID-19, it is unacceptable that the City of Greater Geelong Council has stood down nearly 600 members of its workforce,” the letter notes.

“In a heartless decision, the City of Greater Geelong has acted prematurely and has not taken the time to consult with the ASU (Australian Services Union) or its workforce on other options such as redeployment.”

“The lack of respect for these 576 staff that council has stood down, at this time of crisis, is appalling.

“It is imperative that COGG reinstate every one of the staff members stood down and redeploy them in meaningful tasks to assist during this COVID-19 crisis and to work constructively with the ASU moving forward.”

Corio federal Labor MP Richard Marles said the group was concerned by the city’s “knee-jerk reaction” to stand down hundreds of staff. The letter was signed by federal MPs Richard Marles and Libby Coker, and state MPs Christine Couzens, John Eren, Lisa Neville, Darren Cheeseman and Gayle Tierney.

The letter came on the same day the State Government called on councils not to stand down or dismiss staff during the coronavirus pandemic.

Local Government Minister Adem Somyurek invited councils to partner with the government’s $500 million Working for Victoria Fund to assist staff whose role has been impacted by the pandemic.

The city last week indefinitely stood down 576 workers, primarily from the city’s swim, sport and leisure centres, stadiums, The Potato Shed, The National Wool Museum and the Carousel.

City chief executive Martin Cutter told the Geelong Advertiser the city had to balance support for employees and responsibility to ratepayers amid government directions to close facilities. “All employees affected by the service closures have been provided with two weeks special pay,” he said.

“All permanent employees are now able to access their current leave entitlements, and the city has also provided all of those employees with access to their leave entitlements for next year. We take our obligations to support our employees seriously and we will continue to work with employees and the unions to ensure that each individual employee affected by the service closures is supported.”

Speaking on the day the job cuts were announced, Mr Cutter said he didn’t know if the staff would have access to the government’s $1500-a-fortnight JobKeeper package. Days later he called on the government to change the eligibility criteria for the package to include city workers, but Prime Minister Scott Morrison said local governments would not be eligible.

Mr Cutter said 40 employees have been redeployed so far, with more to come.

“We are continuing to explore all possible redeployment options for affected employees, within the City and with other employers within the region,” he said.