Over the last two weeks, an unprecedented number of workers at Merri-bek, Hume, Yarra and Hobsons Bay cast their vote in a ballot as to whether their councils should be part of a multi-employer bargaining (MEB) agreement. The results are in:
- Merri-bek: Yes – 742, No – 235 (total eligible voters: 1134 - 65% of employees support MEB)
- Yarra: Yes – 772, No – 216 (total eligible voters: 1224 - 63% of employees support MEB)
- Hume: Yes – 1414, No – 117 (total eligible voters: 2090 - 68% of employees support MEB)
- Hobsons Bay: Yes – 535, No – 59 (total eligible voters: 697 - 77% of employees support MEB)
The ASU is waiting on written confirmation from each of the four councils that they will consent to be part of the MEB.
Greater Dandenong City Council, Melbourne City Council, Maribyrnong City Council have all consented following similar levels of support from their workers.
At this point in time, Greater Dandenong City Council, is the only council, after discussions with the ASU, that has initiated an interim pay increase. The ASU are encouraging the other councils to follow Jacqui Weatherill’s example.
Where to from here?
We anticipate seven councils will be covered by the multi-employer agreement that will set the terms and conditions for more than 8,000 workers.
Two others – Darebin City Council and Brimbank City Council – may still join the multi-employer agreement, but both are subject to further legal processes in the Fair Work Commission.
The ASU hopes to start discussions with the participating councils in the next week or so regarding the bargaining process.
At the local level, we have surveyed members regarding the log of claims for our Greater Dandenong Enterprise agreement, and we will be meeting with members to endorse this in the coming weeks.
If you have any questions, please reach out to ASU Delegates.