Qld: Brisbane garbos on strike

AAP General News (Australia)
08-07-2001
Qld: Brisbane garbos on strike

BRISBANE, Aug 7 AAP - Talks in the State Industrial Commission today will try to resolve
a dispute that led to a strike by Brisbane's garbage collectors.

The garbos went on strike today over a wages dispute and have called on Lord Mayor
Jim Soorley to ensure their current pay rates are maintained in new waste collection contracts.

Brisbane City garbage collection contracts are up for tender and the garbos, members
of the Transport Workers Union (TWU), want their enterprise bargaining agreement pay rates
maintained if a new company wins the contract.

The TWU said if they were paid award rates they could lose up to $230 a week each.

TWU branch secretary Hughie Williams said the city council and Mr Soorley had sold
out the garbos and their families after years of excellent service to the public.

"Brisbane's garbos do an excellent job with a 97 per cent approval rating by residents," he said.

"The general public should be concerned by the threat posed to this outstanding service
by the current tender arrangements."

Mr Williams said the TWU also wanted guarantees that garbos employed by the existing
contractors, Cleanaway and Pacific Waste Management, would retain their jobs if a new
company won the contract.

Mr Williams said the strikers would return to work tomorrow morning but a State Industrial
Commission conference had been ordered to try to resolve the dispute.

AAP ved/jfs

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KEYWORD: GARBOS

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