WHITSUNDAY REGIONAL COUNCIL FOLDS ITS CARDS

Following Tuesday’s pay discussions with The Services Union, Whitsunday Regional Council has folded its cards and acknowledged it does indeed require the assistance of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) to finalise you new Certified Agreement (CA).

This is not surprising, considering the Council’s inability to grasp the fundamentals of pay negotiations. Our Union accepted the Council’s invitation to Tuesday’s discussions on the understanding that the Council was interested in reaching agreement. Accordingly, we pressed our claim for 5.5% up front (backdated to February) and 5% or State Wage Case percentage for next year.

What we got from the Council was more of the same tired old excuse of “budgetary considerations” and a refusal to improve its previous undercooked offer of 3.5% per year. The Council was unable to explain how its offer would prevent the value of your pay from being eroded given the underlying rate of inflation is currently 4.9% and is set to worsen before it improves, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).

We will be happy to ask this and many other relevant questions on your behalf when the QIRC hearing commences on 29 September. Until then, if you’ve arrived at the view that the Council is unable to come to grips with the economy and needs all the assistance it can get, remind your colleagues that the RBA data supports the view of you and your Union. Joining is easy online.