Ipswich residents are set to face further household bin collection disruptions this week after three unions rejected an Ipswich City Council bargaining offer and announced further protected industrial action.
Council’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Matt Smith said suburbs affected on Tuesday would be Churchill, Deebing Heights, Flinders View, Ripley, South Ripley, Eastern Heights, Ipswich, Raceview, Silkstone, Swanbank, and Yamanto. This represented 18,000 homes.
“It’s disappointing that these three unions are continuing interruptions to residents’ bin collection services, after accepting an invitation from council to meet on Monday afternoon,” Mr Smith said.
“As of Monday afternoon the union have confirmed they will be taking action on Tuesday 17 December.
“It is not clear if this will be a full-day or part-day disruption. If it is a part-day disruption, council will endeavour to maintain coverage of waste collection services on Tuesday afternoon and into Wednesday.
“Residents in the 11 suburbs are asked to leave their bins out overnight if they have not been collected. Council will continue to update residents through Tuesday once the length of the disruption is known.
“For residents affected by Friday’s missed bin collections during the unions’ protected industrial action, council has extended the free waste drop-off service at our two Resource Recovery Centres in Riverview and Rosewood until Thursday.
“If residents affected by the action tomorrow do not have their bins collected by Wednesday morning, they are also able to take part in this service. This will allow residents to dispose of waste ahead of Christmas week.
“We apologise for the disruptions to service and thank residents for their understanding and patience.”
Mr Smith said council met with the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy, Industrial Union (CFMEU), Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) and the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU representing members of council’s resource recovery and field service workforces on Monday afternoon.
“It was pleasing that the unions accepted our invitation back to the bargaining table, but it is disappointing they are still rejecting council’s fair and reasonable offer of 12.75 per cent wage increases over three years,” Mr Smith said.
“Council will continue to do all in our power to mitigate impacts of this protected industrial action on our residents leading up to Christmas.”
No bin collection they should discount our rates
Not happy about our striking garage collection in the lead-up to Christmas 🎄.
I hope this is sorted out before Christmas 🎄as we have 48’000 affected customers as from today.
The Ticehurst family and myself have been hit hard and hope the bins are collected tomorrow or next week.
This is so disappointing for those who affected.
So not only do we have the highest council rates in SEQLD and no service. On top of that, we have to use our own fuel to dump rubbish we are paying high rates for…I’m guessing we will wear the brunt of any pay increase when it eventually gets resolved. How is it that Moreton Bay region have free bulk waste services and we pay a ridiculous amount to bulk dump? Hardly seems fair.
Greedy garbos. I wish I could have the pay rise and weekly hours they are saying isn’t good enough. Holding everyone to ransom to force us to pay more. And right before Christmas, in the hopes that council will cave in so that everyone’s Christmas isn’t ruined by their greed. Shame on them.
They are not asking for much – give it to them through the surge in rate prices. I give my permission. Looks like the park across the road needs some household rubbish in it if council does not pay. In my life I have never seen this happen before. Council people decoding this should do a dump truck run – get your hands dirty – then you will pay the 15% over 3 years they are entitled too. Stinky park coming up!
SHAME on the unions as usual don,t care about the suffering of the rate payers the average worker is not getting 15%
super all you are doing is putting more pressure on the home owners , the council workers are already on a good wicket
paid more than a lot of drivers and workers out in the normal work force , and it will just put everything up more
and at christmas too
Put the garbage collection out to tender.