United magazine Summer 2019

MAXINE’S A WINNER!
MAXINE DAWSON,
USU RECRUITMENT CHALLENGE VICTOR
On behalf of the United Services Union, General Secretary Graeme Kelly congratulates
Maxine Dawson from Wollongong City Council, for winning the Union’s
recruitment challenge.
Maxine has been able to recruit 60 members on her own during this 3 month
period. This is a significant achievement and reinforces the fact that member to
member recruitment is the most successful form of gaining new members to the
union. For her achievement Maxine has won a week’s stay in our Port Macquarie
Resort.
Again we congratulate Maxine on her significant achievement.
Members alerted USU officials the morning after
Muswellbrook Shire Council meeting that radio
reports had suggested a trial change in operating
hours had been agreed to by the councillors.
Members were concerned as there had been no consultation
in regards to rosters, start or finish times, weekend hours and
safety concerns at the waste facilities due to staffing levels.
This prompted a quick response from officials and delegates
in starting the grievance process and providing correspondence
with council in regards to members’ rights to consultation
under clause 39 of the NSW State Award 2017 Workplace
Change.
Meetings were arranged between members, delegates and the
General Manager. At this meeting the General Manager stated
that the media release was not an official release from council
and agreed to meet weekly with members at the facility to
discuss any potential changes.
THE FINAL STRAW
This information was conveyed to members at yard meetings
and prompted members to a “vote of no confidence” in the
sitting mayor. Though there is no evidence suggesting the
Mayor leaked the information to the media this was a final
straw with members.
The meetings with the General Manager began. Council’s plan
for the trial involved reducing staff and hours on weekends,
60 MEMBERS
STRONGER:
Graeme congratulates Maxine
MUSWELLBROOK MUSCLES!
fist-rai
MEMBERS AT MUSWELLBROOK SHIRE
COUNCIL WASTE FACILITY PROVED THAT
SOLIDARITY CAN ACHIEVE RESULTS
not replacing one full-time and a part time position and
changes to rosters which effected staff work life balance.
CONSULTATION @ WORK
Meetings were held weekly with council’s proposed draft rosters
rejected and resistance by the members to reduce the
staffing levels at the facility. The General Manager offered to
extend the consultation process by a further two weeks. It
was beginning to be clear that with the right approach members
may have the opportunity to negotiate hours and rosters
more suitable for the membership and could achieve potential
goals that council had wished to achieve. This could have
been achieved from the start of the process had Clause 39
been followed in the first instance.
Members elected for officials to provide correspondence to
council with alternate proposals more suitable to the members
and the operational needs of the waste facilities. Once
again these proposals were on a trial basis.
Council reviewed the members’ proposals and an agreement
was made to trial the members’ preferred hours as well as
rosters that were drafted by the members and to fill the vacant
positions as it became clear these staff were necessary for
safety and fatigue management at the facilities.
STRENGTH IN SOLIDARITY
The Trial is currently ongoing, but proved that when members
stick together positive outcomes can be achieved.
38 • United Summer 2019