The 2021 NSW Local Government elections were held on 4th December 2021.
In the lead up to the election we sought support for our Council services by Council workers campaign by asking candidates to sign our pledge to commit to secure, local jobs.
Read our campaign updates below.
USU TRUCK ON THE MOVE
Our campaign truck hit the road to spread the word about Candidates who support Council Services by Council Workers.
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Clr. Khal Asfour – Mayor of the City of Canterbury Bankstown knows how important it is to protect jobs in council and rebuild the local economy post lockdown.
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Great to catch up with Councillor Clare Raffan and Paul at the early voting centre.
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Remember to vote!
Blue-mountainsSelfies with our truck in the Blue Mountains
Selfies with our truck in the Blue Mountains
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Jack Boyd at Sutherland
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Greg and Diedree at Sutherland
The truck at Shellharbour – support local jobs
The truck at Shellharbour – support local jobs
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Mike Forshaw at Sutherland
Liverpool
The truck at Liverpool
Lord Mayor of Newcastle and the Labor team
Nuatali Nelmes – Lord Mayor of Newcastle and the Labor team
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Labor Team at Shellharbour
The truck at the Blue Mountains
The truck at the Blue Mountains
Getting the message out in Cessnock
Getting the message out in Cessnock
Paul Lifeguards at the Beresfield Pool
Paul one of the Lifeguards at the Beresfield Pool
Out in the Blue Mountains
Greens support in Newcastle
voting for secure jobs
Vote for secure jobs
The truck out and about in Singleton
The truck out and about in Singleton
Out in the Blue Mountains
Out in the Blue Mountains
Support local jobs
Support local jobs
USU Manager Stephen Hughes with Mel McLachlan
USU Manager Stephen Hughes with Mel McLachlan
CAMPAIGN UPDATES AND NEWS
Kiama Council Should be Sacked Over Blue Haven Debacle
The United Services Union (USU) has renewed its call for Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig and Premier Chris Minns to place Kiama Council into Administration.
Kiama Council Must Be Sacked and an Administrator Appointed
The United Services Union (USU) believes Kiama Council should be sacked and an administrator appointed over its failure to manage its finances.
DON’T TRASH JOBS IN LISMORE
On the 15th and 16th November of November, the USU signage truck returned to the streets of Lismore to inform the residents of an important proposal, which states that Lismore City Council will be outsourcing their waste collection service to a private company on the Gold Coast. The truck was parked in Molesworth Street Lismore, where residents were able to sign the USU petition and ask the question, "Why would they do that?" The truck successfully gained the attention of many people, who stepped forward to sign the petition. The petition can be downloaded here.
Lismore Council: DON’T TRASH LOCAL JOBS
The United Services Union is very concerned to learn of a report recommending the outsourcing of Council’s Waste Service Operations. Any decision to outsource this service will directly impact USU members and their families - workers who, despite being personally impacted by the devastating floods continued to put the needs of the community ahead of their own. The USU has been active in Lismore advocating for flood resources and funding, meeting with Mayor Steve Krieg as well as various Senior politicians, both state and federal. Options for Ageing fleet The USU had been informally advised...
Global support for Council services by Council workers
USU delegates led by President Sharon Sewell and General Secretary Graeme Kelly OAM are contributing to the International Trade Union plans to Remunicipalise council services across the world. There are good news stories about outsourced jobs and services returning back to in-house across the globe including the waste services at Canterbury Bankstown Council. The USU Council Services by Council Workers campaign has been recognised by the International Congress. It is vitally important that our campaigns continue to be driven in all public services organised by USU officials and...
MEMBERS FIGHT OUTSOURCING @ SHOALHAVEN – AND WIN
Rain could not dampen the spirits of USU members at Shoalhaven Council after they found out that council planned on outsourcing cleaning staff. Our members stood and said NO. They stood up to Shoalhaven Council and the reprehensible actions to outsource local secure jobs, taking industrial action in support of their fellow members. Local secure jobs are the cornerstone of communities and the United Services Union will fight to protect Local jobs across NSW. Since our members’ industrial action a few things have happened: We placed pressure on the elected councillors and engaged in productive...
Fighting for secure jobs at Sutherland Council
Council Management says 50% of council work is not for Council workers. Let’s say that a little louder for those up the back ... Council Management say 50% of council work is not for Council workers. As the dawn broke on 6 July USU officials were out in force at @Sutherland Shire Council, advocating to keep council jobs for council workers. Pictured above: The blitz continues. Acting Manager Southern Rudi Oppitz was joined by officials from across the state - what impacts one of us impacts all of us! Is it any wonder why our members question Council’s commitment to career progression, step...
Shoalhaven Council members take action
Today USU members at Shoalhaven Council took industrial action, walking off the job in support of local, secure jobs. Members were opposing the contracting out of amenities and other services. The USU and our members are calling on Councillors to reconsider their position - find out more here: https://usu.org.au/shoalhaven-city-councils-decision-to-outsource-public-toilet-cleaners-reprehensible-says-union/
Where you can find the USU truck this week!
Our truck hit the road to spread the word about our Council Services by Council Workers campaign and the Candidates at the upcoming local council elections who have signed the pledge to protect local services, jobs, and economies.
Where you can find the USU truck this week!
Our truck hit the road to spread the word about our Council Services by Council Workers campaign and the Candidates at the upcoming local council elections who have signed the pledge to protect local services, jobs, and economies.
USU fighting for jobs at Hilltops Council
The United Services Union has taken decisive action against a proposed plan by Hilltops Council management which would have seen jobs slashed and wages frozen. The plan to dismiss up to 30% of its staff, freeze wages and sell off plant and equipment and look to use contract labour was to be put to Hilltops Council on Wednesday 27th October. In an appalling breach of the NSW Local Government (State) Award the union received no notice of the Council's intentions. The USU intervened immediately and took the Council to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission. The Commission issued a...
Pledge for Candidates in Local Government Elections
The 2021 NSW Local Government elections scheduled for Saturday, 4 September 2021 have been postponed until 4th December 2021.
In the lead up to the election we will continue to seek support for our Council services by Council workers campaign. Find out who has signed our pledge to support local jobs and services.
Council services by Council workers UPDATE
The USU has been continuing to escalate our campaign against the misuse of contractors in local government taking work from day labour staff.
The information provided by our members and delegates regarding the abuse of contract labour has been critical in our campaign plan, and we encourage members and delegates to continue to send through this information.
Central Coast Council review opens door to privatisation of local water and sewer services
The United Services Union has warned that Central Coast Council’s review into local water and sewerage operations is the first step in opening the door to the sell-off of these vital community services by the cash-strapped council. Central Coast Council, whilst under administration, has announced an independent review into how water and sewer operations are managed, which will examine options including the full privatisation of the services, a transition to a council-owned corporation, and a joint service with Hunter Water. The USU said the publicly-owned water and sewer infrastructure —...
USU@CUMBERLAND: COUNCIL VOTES TO RETAIN CHILDCARE
At the Council meeting on 21 July 2021, Cumberland City Council voted to keep Children’s Services in house.
For over 12 months, USU members from Cumberland Council have been campaigning to keep Childcare Services in house. Council has called for tenders twice, and neither time did they satisfy the requirements.
A working group including the USU, Councillors, USU members and management have been working for the last seven months on ways to make the service financially viable.
We thank everyone in the working group, our members, Councillors, and the local community for helping to deliver this great outcome.
DO YOU WORK IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT? TELL US WHAT YOU KNOW
We have launched our Council services by Council workers campaign to shine a light on the overuse of contractors in local government and to protect your job into the future.
With your help we hope to turn the tide against the growing insecurity in local government by opposing the unnecessary outsourcing of Council jobs.
Council Services by Council Workers – Canterbury/Bankstown leads the way!
In line with the USU campaign “Council Services by Council Workers” opposing the overuse of contractors in Local Government and focusing on the ongoing need and demand to protect the future of council worker jobs, Canterbury Bankstown Council, one of the state’s largest merged Councils, has taken the vital step of bringing back their Waste and Cleansing Services in-house to be performed by Council workers.
This is a positive example of the Union’s vision for 2021 and beyond!
Campaign launched! The USU’s campaign to protect council jobs from the threat of contracting
Looking around your workplace, how often do you see contractors, contractors who are completing the work traditionally completed by Council employees?
Over the years this has become an increasing problem in many Councils. While at times the use of contractors may be necessary for a specific project or where specialist skills or plant are required for short term situations, in other cases contractors are being used to replace full-time Council jobs rather than supplementing them on a short term basis where legitimately needed. The misuse of contract labour is a threat to secure council jobs.
For this reason the USU has made the decision to launch our campaign “Council services by Council workers”.
