Members of the United Services Union (USU) employed at Lismore City Council have condemned last night’s decision by the Council to outsource its waste collection operations.
The future employment of our members is now under a cloud as the Council proceeds with its plans to bring in contractors.
USU General Secretary Graeme Kelly OAM said while the Council has stated these workers will be redeployed, there is uncertainty about whether this will occur.
“This is a short-sighted decision by a Council which is pushing an ideological agenda to privatise local full-time jobs,” Mr Kelly said.
“Our members will be fighting to overturn this decision, keep waste operations in-house and save local jobs.”
“This is a kick in the guts for our members who have worked hard over the past few years to keep the community safe.”
“These workers have worked through the COVID Pandemic, then backed up to put in a big effort during the flood disasters which have devastated Lismore.”
“They don’t deserve to have their working lives overturned by this decision.”
Mr Kelly said the USU would launch action in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission over the decision.
The Union will also make a formal report to the NSW Office of Local Government about the Council’s flawed decision-making process.
“Make no mistake, we won’t be accepting this bad decision that Lismore Council has made and we will be doing everything we can to overturn it,” Mr Kelly said.
Media contact John Hill 0412 197 079
