Pay battle at an end
Council and unions reach long-awaited deal
THE standoff between Cairns Regional Council and unions is on the cusp of a begrudging resolution after years of gridlocked wage bargaining.
Council staff have finally been given a vote on a wage offer for the first time since their previous agreement expired in September 2015.
A report before yesterday’s council meeting stated 86 per cent of employees took part in the poll, with an overwhelming 82 per cent opting to accept the salary increase and working conditions on offer.
The agreement has been submitted to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission for certification on June 26 and all outstanding payments to staff were made on June 18.
“We await certification of the agreement, which could take between four and eight weeks,” the report states.
The meeting also resolved to introduce a motion at the upcoming Local Government Association of Queensland to amend the Industrial Relations Act.
The council has been a fierce opponent to a 2016 amendment that stipulated all unions – of which there are at least five involved the council’s workforce – must agree on a wage offer before it can be put to staff for a vote.
“In practical terms this means that one union can stop an agreement going to the employees for a vote,” a report before the council states.
“This one union may have no current members.
“Despite all parties bargaining in good faith and reaching consensus on a majority of issues there is no mechanism for the employees, who are directly impacted by the agreement, to have their say.
“If a bargaining deadlock is reached, the employer does not have the option of taking the best offer straight to an employee vote, as was the case in the past.”
The wage agreement will last two years after the council was forced to reduce its push for a four-year deal after a backlash from the unions.
Staff were offered a 2.5 per cent wage increase from July 2018 – 2 per cent which has already been paid – as well as a $2500 lump sum payment.
Salaries will increase by 2 per cent or in line with CPI, whichever is greatest, for both 2019-20 and 2020-21.