To: Jacinta Allan, Premier of Victoria
Council workers deserve fair pay!
The Allan Labor Government needs to take responsibility for the crisis in Local Government funding and essential service delivery. It must commit to increased funding levels to provide decent wages for council workers and guarantee high-quality services for the community.
Why is this important?
Local Government services in Victoria are in crisis because of chronic underfunding by the Allan Labor Government. Council workers across metropolitan Melbourne are under constant threat of outsourcing and have seen their real wages cut by between 7-12%. High rates of vacancies and turnover are endemic across the sector, and workers are more exposed than ever to occupational violence and unsustainable workloads.
This also means lower quality services for the broader community. It means understaffed libraries. It means graffiti being left up for weeks and subcontracted street sweepers racing through too many streets and leaving rubbish behind. It means youth workers preventing crime by providing vital early intervention services losing their jobs.
Our communities can’t afford a race to the bottom.
