For months members of the United Services Union (USU) working at Wingecarribee Council have been attempting to resolve concerns around a culture of bullying and harassment but have reached a stalemate.
Workers at the Council say there is a culture of bullying and harassment, lack of transparency and proper consultation with staff and a failure to respectfully treat injured workers at the Council.
Ratepayers have also expressed concerns at how they are treated by council on local social media sites. The council takes in Bowral, Moss Vale, Mittagong and the Southern Highlands.
USU members, delegates and officials have made every effort to work with Wingecarribee Council in good faith but these efforts have failed to reach agreeable outcomes.
Workers feel there is one rule for management and another for the rest of the staff.
Attempts to get this point across to the General Manager have failed.
The USU had been forced to file disputes in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) on behalf of members to seek copies of documents relating to performance allegations against several of its members, and pursue outcomes so members who have been injured at work can return to work and contribute to their community.
USU members have now been forced to consider what action will need to be taken by them in order that they are treated with respect and not bullied and harassed.
Future action may unfortunately see services to the community disrupted as they pursue a resolution to a significant number of unresolved matters at their workplace and a change in the culture.
This may lead to a reduction of services at local pools, libraries, and the tip at Moss Vale. Road repair and water services may also be affected.
The USU is calling on the General Manager to step up and hold those who are creating the poor culture accountable.
Wingecarribee Council was suspended in March 2021, and councillors were later dismissed.
Wingecarribee Council has only been out of administration since the recent council elections in September last year.
Contact: Rudi Oppitz 0409 662 460