Townsville City Council will move to lock out staff for 48 hours if further industrial action continues this week, amid ongoing disputes over pay and conditions.
A Council spokesperson confirmed that protected industrial action has now impacted community services for more than ten weeks, including waste services and bin collections.
“While Council respects employees’ rights to strike and participate in work bans, it will now exercise its own rights under the Industrial Relations Act 2016 (Qld), locking out staff for 48 hours if they participate in further industrial action in the coming days,” the spokesperson said.
The dispute centres around three certified agreements covering trades and technical staff (Stream C), field and outdoor staff (Stream B), and administrative and professional staff (Stream A).
Under Council’s latest offer:
Stream C workers, including electricians, plumbers and mechanics, would receive a 21.59% pay rise over three years, including 14.61% in the first year. That equates to an average uplift of approximately $8,681 in year one.
Stream B workers, such as plant operators and labourers, are being offered an 18.15% rise over three years, with 11.36% in the first year, or about $6,500 on average.
Stream A staff would see an 11.39% increase over three years, starting with 5% in year one—an average of $4,381.
Council says the offer includes no cuts to existing conditions and introduces a range of improvements, including:
- Fortnightly rostered days off and five weeks annual leave
- Enhanced on-call leave entitlements for trades and field staff
- A new Chief Fire Warden allowance
- A minimum three-month engagement for apprentices after completion
- A structured allowance framework for crew leader progression
Despite this, negotiations have stalled. “Council has supported employees’ rights to pursue their claims, including offering paid union meetings to discuss the latest offer,” the spokesperson said. “However, despite requests to cease industrial action and resume constructive negotiations, bargaining parties have not agreed to a path forward that Council can accept.”
Council argues that the continued disruption to essential services has left them no choice. “The current actions are impacting services to the community and has left Council no choice but to impose unpaid lock outs for those participating in industrial action.”
Employees who choose to take further protected industrial action on Wednesday 3 September from 6.00am will be locked out until Thursday 4 September at 5.00pm, or until their normal duties resume the following day. Those affected will not be paid during this time and will be barred from entering any Council site.
The spokesperson stressed that this was the limit of what Council could reasonably afford. “Council believes this is a genuine and balanced offer and represents the absolute of what can reasonably be offered without putting jobs or essential services at risk.”
“As of the last certified agreement meeting on 21 August, the unions’ current claim was for a 17 per cent base uplift plus a 5 per cent first year increase, totalling 22.85 per cent in year one alone.”
Council acknowledged community frustration and said the lockout was necessary to protect ongoing service delivery. “We’re acting in the best interest of our community and exercising our right to lock those who wish to continue participating in ongoing industrial action out.”
The spokesperson thanked residents for their patience, warning that further disruptions may occur if the dispute continues.
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