22 March 2018
Union slams Brisbane City Council’s refusal to meet as delaying tactics
The Electrical Trades Union accused Brisbane City Council of failing to negotiate in good faith today following Council’s refusal to meet with the ETU, CFMEU and AMWU over stalled bargaining talks.
Last month the same unions won an important case in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission which stated that BCC could not send a proposed agreement out to ballot without agreement from all parties. Following that decision, the unions have been in communication with council to identify suitable times to recommence bargaining with the three unions with outstanding claims.
ETU state organiser Brenton Muller was angry and disappointed when he received an email yesterday indicating BCC would be seeking assistance from the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, instead of meeting with the parties as has been common practice in the past.
“It was out of the blue, we have been working with council to facilitate a meeting with the three unions that still had outstanding claims, when they pulled this trick, it is poor form
“We had a date, time and venue organised when they pulled the pin,” Mr Muller said.
“This further demonstrates the contempt that BCC has for its outdoor and trade staff. They have largely ignored them through the whole negotiating process and this shows that Council still has no appetite to sit down and address the claims of these employees,” he said.
“Every time it got close to BCC having to negotiate with our members their response has been to engage expensive barristers instead of coming to the table and resolving the issues. This is the BCC pattern repeating itself once again.”
We call on BCC to do the right thing, stop the delaying tactics and meet with us and let’s get this agreement sorted out, our members and BCC workers deserve better.