Cutting jobs and services won’t save money but it will hurt your community – the USU truck accompanying Upper Lachlan Shire Council members as they march down the main street of Crookwell town centre.
Without any consultation or warning, Upper Lachlan Shire Council management proposed cutting 25 local jobs. In response, our members went on strike for two days.
Kicking off the morning of Tuesday 6 August with a rally, members marched down the main street of Crookwell, led by their USU Organiser, Rudi Oppitz and accompanied by the USU truck.
Pictured above: Our members from Upper Lachlan Shire Council with their Organiser, Rudi Oppitz (front, fourth from left) surrounding the USU truck after voting in favour of industrial action.
Over 100 USU members and their supporters showed up, crushing any hope council had of sneaking these cuts through without the community knowing.
These cuts, if successful, will shrink council’s workforce by 20%. Less council jobs means less services, without exemption. These cuts will be felt by the wider community for many years.
After a 2-day strike, members returned to work while we continued the fight in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission. As of mid-October 2024, this matter is ongoing.
Throughout, Council has continued to do everything they can to keep the community, our members and us in the dark. As the union for local government workers in NSW, we intend to keep fighting them every step of the way.
