The TWU is encouraging the City of Sydney council to intervene after Cleanaway workers took protected industrial action last week
The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) has announced that City of Sydney waste workers went on strike recently over low pay and understaffing.
The strike happened last week for 24 hours from 4.30M onwards as the TWU says Cleanaway refuses to respond to low pay and understaffing concerns.
The union is also calling on the City of Sydney council, which contracts its essential waste function to Cleanaway, to intervene and ensure terms and conditions for workers are fair, safe and sustainable.
The TWU says workers have become increasingly frustrated after months of talks resulted in Cleanaway refusing to lodge a fair solution after workers’ pay fell more than $4 an hour behind Sydney counterparts.
The union says Cleanaway workers in Erskine Park are also planning further protected industrial action over attempts to turn an eight-hour standard day into a 12-hour day while also changing standard rosters to cover seven days a week.
TWU NSW/ QLD state secretary Richard Olsen says it’s the council’s responsibility to set things right by intervening to ensure that Cleanaway comes to the table on sustainable conditions.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that City of Sydney waste workers are crucial to the community,” Olsen says.
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“Households across the city are really feeling the impact of driver shortages caused by low pay and Cleanaway management’s treatment of workers. Workers are grateful for the understanding of the community as they battle for sustainable pay and conditions that catch up to their counterparts in other parts of Sydney.
“It’s important to remember that these trucks share the streets with other drivers and pedestrians in residential areas. Workers should not be understaffed and under the pump, pressured to work longer and faster to make ends meet.”
Olsen says he is looking to ensure Cleanaway’s actions are stopped as he calls for the council to step in.
“The council is responsible for this contract and the essential service Sydney residents rely on. It’s not good enough for the council to wash its hands of this situation which has reached crisis point,” Olsen says.
The TWU estimates the City of Sydney workforce at Cleanaway is 30-40 per cent understaffed.