BOM outlook stormy

Lightning strikes forecast as staff apply pressure in pay row

BUREAU of Meteorology staff in Townsville will be able to strike at any time of the day or night, after failing to reach an agreement in a protracted pay dispute.

Staff have undertaken limited rolling action since February 20 but from today they will be able to strike at any time.

Community and Public Sector Union ( CPSU) assistant secretary Amy Smith said the 24- hour protected industrial action was “unprecedented”.

“This escalation demonstrates the resolve of staff that they are committed to continue action until an agreement is reached,” she said.

“This is not normal for public servants.

“When you look at people who are living and working in Townsville they’re really passionate, it shows how desperately unhappy they are – they feel like it’s a ‘ new low’ for weather bureau bosses.”

Staff have been fighting for a new enterprise agreement that retains existing workplace rights and conditions since the previous one expired in June 2014.

Ms Smith said the 10 Townsville- based bureau staff had not received a general pay rise in more than four years.

“The staff in Townsville play a really critical role, we’ve had to fight really hard to keep them here,” she said. “There’s been a big move to have allowances removed for things such as living and working in a regional area. That makes up a big chunk of their salaries.”

Ms Smith said bureau staff who are members of the CPSU would undertake rolling strikes “indefinitely”.

“The protected industrial action is technically until April 23 but the staff will keep notifying action until they get a result,” she said.

Ms Smith said the industrial action was designed to “inconvenience management” and included work bans on non- essential media or ministerial briefings.

“There is always exemptions for severe weather events ... and the focus will always re- main on putting pressure on management rather than inconveniencing the public,” she said. Ms Smith said the staff in Townsville were determined to get a “fair go”.

“This pay dispute was always going to be felt more deeply in regional areas, they’re going to lose the most,” she said.

Fair Work has urged bureau management to resolve the protracted industrial dispute with conciliation but the offer was again refused last month. Bureau staff took limited strike action last year and in 2016.