Georges River Council is set to be the first amalgamated council to see the inside of the State Industrial Relations Commission after tensions boiled over at a stop work meeting on Tuesday morning.

More than 240 employees of Georges River Council downed tools at 9am to protest Interim General Manager Gail Connolly’s failure to openly and transparently consult with staff.

The employees’ concerns included:

  • a lack of consultation on key Council policies;
  • a lack of transparency regarding the election of “staff representatives”; and
  • a failure to deal with staff grievances in accordance with the Award.

Ms Connolly was appointed to the position of Interim General Manager by the State Government, following the merger of Hurstville and Kogarah Councils.

Ms Connolly had previously held the position of General Manager at Ryde Council.

This represents the first major industrial issue at an amalgamated council since the State Government made the decision to merge councils in May of this year.

For all media enquiries please contact Stephen Donley, United Service Union Metropolitan Manager on 0418 113 541.