Council welcomes return-to-work and conciliation conference

Date: Monday, 17th August 2009

Townsville City Council has welcomed an order by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission that striking staff covered by the Australian Workers Union return to work.

At a hearing this afternoon, the Commission Deputy President, Adrian Bloomfield, said the Commission would meet both parties again on 26 August to progress the issues between them, including a new policy proposing long-sleeved shirts and long trousers for most outdoor workers.

The council is proposing the protective uniforms as a sun-safety measure under its workplace health and safety policy.

In today’s teleconference, which lasted about 50 minutes, Deputy President Bloomfield directed the AWU to instruct its members that there would be no withdrawal of labour at the council tomorrow (Friday).

He further directed that if there was any decision tomorrow against that instruction not to withdraw labour that the union was to contact him immediately and he would issue an order under Section 230 of the Industrial Relations Act that the industrial action was to “stop or not happen”.

Deputy President Bloomfield said he would also issue further orders if necessary.

About 200 council workers covered by the AWU went on strike from midday today after a stop-work meeting this morning. The workers were from the council’s Construction and Maintenance, Parks and Water sections. No essential services were affected.

Council Chief Executive Officer Ray Burton welcomed the return-to-work order and the further conciliation conference later this month.

Mr Burton said workers who went on strike today would not be paid for their time on industrial action.