Waste!

Direct from Council's media release...

Solution for waste dispute

At talks today convened by Newcastle City Council’s General Manager Ms Lindy Hyam, with the United Services Union (USU) Organiser, Mr Peter Collins, Ms Hyam and Mr Collins jointly agreed on a solution to move the waste dispute forward.

The settlement’s major points are:

1. To place in abeyance the motion of 18th November for a period of three months;
2. To conduct a transparent review of conditions and services relating to waste services;
3. A change management agreement that will allow Council’s Sustainability Review to be conducted unimpeded;
4. A deferral of the dispute revolving around who is the employer; the General Manager or Councillors, for a period of three months;
5. Agreement by the USU to cooperatively work through the Sustainability Review process.

The settlement is underpinned by a commitment by Ms Hyam to approach Councillors to obtain a moratorium on the past motion to market test Waste Services by competitive tender. A motion is expected to be presented by Ms Hyam to Council at the first available Council meeting.

USU Organiser, Mr Peter Collins said that this path will allow a full, transparent and proper review. He has welcomed the chance for the waste services employees to demonstrate to Newcastle that they are amongst the most efficient providers of Waste Services in NSW.

Ms Hyam said she “is pleased with the outcome of today’s meeting with the union, and is committed to ensuring the community is provided with the most effective and efficient delivery of services, without the spectre of any further industrial action”.

Contact LINDY HYAM on 4974 2208 or PETER DEVINE on 4974 2321