Don’t trash our entitlements

With the advent of Workchoices earlier in 2006, the waste industry has been one of the first to experience the shocks of the legislation.

As part of our ongoing campaign to protect the wages and conditions of waste workers, the TWU staged a protest outside of State Parliament on the 13th of February, urging the NSW government to protect their jobs when a local council changes their waste contract.

TWU members asked the NSW Government to force local councils to include a mandatory clause in all waste contracts, protecting garbage collectors’ jobs.

Before such a clause was introduced, Gosford and Wyong council released a new joint contract which would go to tender with a flat pay rate as low as $12.75 an hour.

This tender would put 100 waste workers jobs at risk and could mean a possible pay cut of $340 a week per driver.

On Wednesday May 17th, 100 garbage collectors delivered bags of rubbish to Wyong Council Chambers in a protest against Gosford City and Wyong Shire Council’s decision. (see more photos)

TWU Secretary Tony Sheldon said the new pay rate on offer from the Councils would equate to a pay cut of up to $340 a week for the current garbage collectors and their families.

“Working in the waste industry is not easy. There are early mornings and often poor standards of hygiene, how can they be expected to do the same job for $12.75?

“The Transport Workers’ Union and its members are calling on the Mayors to contractually protect the jobs, and therefore the families of these 100 workers,” Mr Sheldon said.

The Federal opposition Leader Kim Beazley will visit the drivers to show his support. "I'm very angry about the new contracts that undercut of the wages of garbage contractors who service the Gosford City and Wyong Shire.

"It's proof that John Howards extreme IR laws wreck workers' wages and conditions. The Howard Government must be voted out, and then I'll rip these extreme laws up,” said Mr Beazley.

Wyong Council waste worker Paul Weston said he challenged Mayor Maher and Mayor Graham to start work at 5am for $12.75 an hour and keep supporting their families.

“All we ask is that the Councils do the right thing by working families on the Central Coast,” said Paul.

The TWU will keep up the fight for waste workers across NSW as each council renews their garbage contracts.

If you are interested in getting involved in this campaign in your area, please contact Daniel Kicuroski on 0407 072 416 or on 9912 0700.