Dickson dismisses accusations as ‘nonsense’
THE staff wage dispute at Gold Coast City Council is becoming increasingly bitter with CEO Dale Dickson accused of walking out of a meeting with unions after less than 30 minutes.
Mr Dickson denied the claim.
Union members today plan to introduce work bans as the two-year dispute involving has strongly more than 3400 staff threatens to escalate.
Union insiders suggest Mr Dickson’s appearance at a conciliation meeting organised by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission was followed by a stand-off between the warring parties.
“The CEO couldn’t hold his attention longer than 29 minutes. If you had to say where it’s going at the moment, it’s got a long way to go,” Australian Services Union secretary Neil Henderson said.
A union insider said: “The city’s remaining bargaining representatives steadfastly refused to discuss any of the outstanding items. Their stated reason was that they were unwilling to negotiate unless the CFMEU withdrew its scope application for a separate outdoor agreement.”
Mr Dickson said some the claims were rubbish. of
“The unions know full well that I was only attending the meeting to answer a particular question and I did so at the start of the meeting,” he said.
Asked about the outdoor agreement, Mr Dickson replied: “It is a nonsense to suggest the city is refusing to discuss certain outstanding items, including the CFMEU proposal to have a separate agreement. This aspect has been discussed numerous times and we simply disagree.”
Mr Dickson said further industrial action was a matter for the unions. The dispute has escalated since last year when workers said the wage offer of 1.8 per cent and an additional 0.5 per cent was “insulting”.
The unions had sought 3.5 per cent in the first year.
Mr Henderson said industrial bans would occur today before the Commissioner reports on the dispute tomorrow.