Further disruptions likely to affect Ipswich household bin collections
16 December 2024
Ipswich residents are set to face further household bin collection disruptions this week after three unions rejected an Ipswich City Council bargaining offer and announced further protected industrial action.
Council’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Matt Smith said suburbs affected on Tuesday would be Churchill, Deebing Heights, Flinders View, Ripley, South Ripley, Eastern Heights, Ipswich, Raceview, Silkstone, Swanbank, and Yamanto. This represented 18,000 homes.
“It’s disappointing that these three unions are continuing interruptions to residents’ bin collection services, after accepting an invitation from council to meet on Monday afternoon,” Mr Smith said.
“As of Monday afternoon the union have confirmed they will be taking action on Tuesday 17 December.
“It is not clear if this will be a full-day or part-day disruption. If it is a part-day disruption, council will endeavour to maintain coverage of waste collection services on Tuesday afternoon and into Wednesday.
“Residents in the 11 suburbs are asked to leave their bins out overnight if they have not been collected. Council will continue to update residents through Tuesday once the length of the disruption is known.
“For residents affected by Friday’s missed bin collections during the unions’ protected industrial action, council has extended the free waste drop-off service at our two Resource Recovery Centres in Riverview and Rosewood until Thursday.
“If residents affected by the action tomorrow do not have their bins collected by Wednesday morning, they are also able to take part in this service. This will allow residents to dispose of waste ahead of Christmas week.
“We apologise for the disruptions to service and thank residents for their understanding and patience.”
Mr Smith said council met with the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy, Industrial Union (CFMEU), Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) and the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU representing members of council’s resource recovery and field service workforces on Monday afternoon.
“It was pleasing that the unions accepted our invitation back to the bargaining table, but it is disappointing they are still rejecting council’s fair and reasonable offer of 12.75 per cent wage increases over three years,” Mr Smith said.
“Council will continue to do all in our power to mitigate impacts of this protected industrial action on our residents leading up to Christmas.”