Recently at the Rooty Hill Depot the United Services Union members voted to take industrial action for 48 hours in regard to the council’s alleged misuse of telematics and GPS in the disciplinary process.
Council’s own policy states that data from these instruments cannot be used to initiate disciplinary action.
The Union was advised that a supervisor put a formal complaint into Human Resources, and they initiated an investigation. An investigation where council is using ratepayers’ money to engage an external investigator.
The members were concerned that should the council’s actions not be challenged, then every Blacktown City Council employee that drives or uses a council vehicle could be the subject of unnecessary or inappropriate disciplinary action.
Staff that were investigated are all Union delegates. This is total victimisation, as members have now come forward with statutory declarations stating that they have witnessed the manager saying he was going to get rid of the four delegates.
Additionally, in 2025 discussions with the Mayor, the Union asked the Mayor did he believe the council should or could use the GPS in disciplinary action against staff. The Mayor’s response was “No”.
Over many days, the United Services Union Officials worked with council where the CEO was adamant there has been a major breach and the investigation must proceed. However, a number of concessions were achieved by the Union. These were:
- That Council sat down with the Union and negotiated a plain and simple policy of 3 strikes and you’re out with the GPS system.
- On the grounds that the Union believe it is of delegates, the CEO continued with the investigation, however, before any final decision was made, the CEO meets with the union
- That the investigator also investigated the action of the two supervisors and the immediate manager into their actions in this matter.
