MEDIA RELEASE
23 October 2008
Wage certainty secured for local council workers
Local Government workers across NSW are set to be guaranteed a $22 a week or
3.2% minimum wage increase after the State Government tabled legislation to
immediately de-corporatise councils.
NSW council workers have previously been under a cloud of uncertainty over their
job security as there was no guarantee their jobs were protected by the State
Industrial Relations system.
“The fact is that under the current system all workers in local government across
NSW are at risk of having their employment conditions and entitlements stripped.
Premier Rees has proposed legislative changes that will help secure state industrial
relations coverage for all workers, closing the loophole that has been threatening
jobs.
“Premier Rees’ decision to amend the legislation and move to end the confusion over
local government workers’ jobs once and for all is a very positive step,” said USU
Secretary Ben Kruse.
“Many workers in local councils, from garbage collectors, librarians to youth workers,
may now be able to rest easy knowing they are protected by the State IR system
safety net,” said Mr Kruse.
Mr Kruse said the legislation would secure award increases for local government
workers across NSW and ensure local services – such as childcare, libraries and
aged care services, can continue to be delivered to the community.
“The NSW IR system provides for some of the best employee protections in
Australia, and we are confident this is the right decision to ensure local community
services can continue to be delivered by workers, who have job security.”
Mr Kruse said there was still work to be done even if the NSW legislation is passed
and it was also up to the Federal Government to ensure all council workers jobs were
protected.
“The Federal Government now has a responsibility to exclude local councils from the
Federal system so that local council workers and their families are fully protected,”
said Mr Kruse.
For more information, please contact:
Ben Kruse on 0419 623 984 or Keiller MacDuff on 0432 828 006
NEWS 
