A Queensland First: Brisbane City Council Garbage Workers Protected

The Transport Workers' Union Queensland  welcomes the announcement that Brisbane City Council Garbage Workers will be protected.

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman has awarded the City's Kerbside Collection of Refuse and Recycling contract to incumbent contractor SITA with workers conditions and entitlements retained.

TWU Branch Secretary Hughie Williams said, "This is a Queensland first. No other Brisbane Lord Mayor has looked after the conditions of their garbage workers."

"Council usually awards the contract to the lowest tenderer who has cut the wages, conditions and entitlements of their employees to win the contract."

Mr Williams said, "The TWU has been in talks with Brisbane City Council to make sure that the successful tenderer pays their employees the going rate of pay."

Mr Williams said, "It is good to see that in these times of economic hardship, Brisbane City Council is looking after garbage workers and their families."

The TWU urges other Local Government Councils to follow Brisbane City Council's lead and look after their workers.