Townsville City Council has stooped to a new low, threatening to lock out its own workforce.
This reckless move comes even as council workers were postponing industrial action in good faith to finalise a fair pay deal. Instead of negotiating, the Council is choosing spite, punishing some of the city's lowest-paid workers by stripping away their wages and shutting down the essential services Townsville residents rely on every day.
AWU Northern District Secretary, Jim Wilson, said the lockout will have devastating consequences for the whole community.
"Council is still scrambling to recover from the very limited work bans workers put in place weeks ago," Mr Wilson said.
"If this city-wide lockout goes ahead, services will grind to a halt. Residents don't want that, workers don't want that, and the only people pushing for it are Townsville Council's leadership. They need to explain why they are choosing a path of confrontation that leaves the whole city worse off."
Mr Wilson said AWU members remain ready to resolve the dispute.
"Our members are prepared to finalise a deal that recognises their enormous contribution to Townsville. What's missing is a council administration willing to act responsibly, instead of lashing out at workers simply for standing up for a fair go."
