As you would be aware the final Award increase for the Local Government (State) Award 2014 was paid from July this year.
This increase was 2.8% or a minimum of $23.20 per week (equalling no less than $1206.40 over 12 months).
The current Award is due to expire on the 30 June 2017, and a new award needs to be negotiated (if possible) to commence on 1 July 2017 to deliver future wage increases and conditions.
The USU has met with the other two Local Government Unions (depa and LGEA) and have agreed to support common interest claims in order to present a united front to the employers.
The USU, depa and the LGEA will work together in ensuring the best possible outcome for Union members in the negotiations.
The USU will as usual conduct at least 300 mass meetings across NSW when we have a proposed Award that we feel we can recommend to you. We also will work hard to allow enough time to circulate the draft Award to you before these mass meetings. This all must be completed before the 1 July 2017 if the new award and next scheduled wage increases are to commence on time, however we will not ask members to vote on any draft Award that is not up to our standard just to make a deadline.
We will also arbitrate the Award before the Industrial Relations Commission if the employers are being unreasonable.
The employers were required by the Industrial Relations Commission to provide their initial log of claims to the Unions by 12 September 2016.
The log was provided only a couple of minutes before the close of business on this day and represents the single biggest attack on your wages, allowances, conditions and rights in more than 30 years.
A separate update on these unreasonable employer claims will be released concurrently with this update (please see update titled Employer Claims: your rights at work under attack)
Please ensure you read this so that you understand what the Employers’ Association wants to do to your living standards and rights at work.
It is important to remember that only Union members will be able to receive updates on negotiations and to vote when the time comes.
