Merri-bek City Council depot workers took strike action for 24 hours over October 14–15 in response to management’s below-inflation pay rise offer, after several months of negotiations. Hume Council workers also came to add their support.
The group of eight councils’ management offered a pay rise of 2.75%, from January 1 next year, with back pay to when the agreement expired in July. It was rejected by the Australian Services Union (ASU).
Merri-bek workers gathered outside Coburg Town Hall to hear from several speakers, including Merri-Bek Socialist Alliance Councillor Sue Bolton, who said it was a “disgrace”.
“Some of the lowest paid workers are the home care workers. We need to council bosses to pay up and abide by all their own slogans about ‘fairness’ and ‘social inclusion’.”
ASU members from eight metropolitan councils, including Merri-bek, Melbourne, Yarra and Darebin began the campaign in April.
The ASU is demanding a 22% pay rise over four years, including 10% in the first year to make up for a decline in real wages due to inflation since 2021.
