Fed up garbos in charge of residential pick ups in Geelong region council areas are expected to strike this week because of proposed changes to work conditions.
The Transport Workers’ Union and waste management company Cleanaway have been locked in enterprise bargaining for months but are now at a deadlock.
That’s prompted the TWU to give notification that its members intend to strike, under protected industrial action, from Wednesday.
Asked about a strike TWU assistant state secretary for Victoria, Mem Suleyman, said: “I think it will go ahead.”
Cleanaway, responsible for residential and commercial waste collection in the region, has two depots in Moolap.
It is a contractor to Greater Geelong, Surf Coast and Golden Plains councils.
A City of Greater Geelong spokeswoman said the council would meet with Cleanaway to discuss contingency plans.
“It is unknown if Geelong drivers will participate in the statewide strike,” the spokeswoman said on Sunday.
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“Our contractor is meeting with drivers on Monday morning in order to work with them and avoid this action occurring at a local level.
“Our contractor has a responsibility via a contract to put in place actions to ensure waste is collected in these circumstances. If necessary, we will meet daily until resolved.”
Mr Suleyman claimed Cleanaway was attempting to lift standard daily working hours of its employees from 7.6 hours to nine which would mean staff lose penalty rates.
“Essentially Cleanaway have declared a war on their workforce nationally. This is not just an issue in the Geelong area,” Mr Suleyman said.
“They are trying to put up people’s (standard) hours, they are stripping people’s overtime and they are trying to bring in a b-scale of workers which will essentially cut thousands of dollars from people’s take home pay.”
Mr Suleyman said the TWU would not accept EBA offers which meant workers had to work more for less pay.
He said Cleanaway was notified of the potential strike on May 11.
Cleanaway was contacted for comment on Sunday afternoon but is yet to respond.
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