Union to fight for driver

THE Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union has vowed to fight until the end as a battle with Townsville City Council begins in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission.

The council filed against the CFMMEU in May after the union allegedly took unprotected industrial action in March this year.

The CFMMEU claimed the council had tried to “manage” a council truck driver out of his position on “spurious medical grounds”.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill previously told the Townsville Bulletin she believed senior management had followed the correct procedure.

CFMMEU Queensland boss Michael Ravbar said the union had uncovered a case of “abject mismanagement” and the council was trying to hide behind expensive legal action.

“A long-serving council employee – and one of the heroes of the Townsville floods – was being managed out of his position on spurious medical grounds, and not surprisingly his workmates decided to take a stand,” Mr Ravbar said.

“This is not about one employee; it is a fight to protect the rights of every council worker who could find themselves in a similar situation.”

The CFMMEU claims the situation could have been resolved months ago, but instead the council chose to spend ratepayers’ money on “pointless legal action”.

“It is a fight that workers and this union will not shy away from,” Mr Ravbar said.

A council spokesman said it would be “inappropriate” to comment while the matter was before the QIRC.