Workers at Riverina Water have walked off the job today in a dramatic escalation of industrial action, following a long-running dispute over what they describe as unfair and unequal working conditions.
The protest by members of the United Services Union (USU), centres on the refusal by Riverina Water County Council to equalise weekly working hours between outdoor and indoor employees.
While indoor staff work a 35-hour week, outdoor staff continue to be rostered for 38 hours — a difference that workers argue amounts to nearly a month of unpaid work per year.
USU Acting General Secretary Daniel Papps said the walkout was a "last resort" after repeated efforts to negotiate a fair outcome stalled.
“Riverina Water is asking some of its workers to donate 4.1 weeks of their time each year — unpaid — simply because they work outdoors. That’s not just unfair, it’s unsustainable,” Mr Papps said.
“Equal work should mean equal conditions. These workers deserve the same respect, the same time with their families, and the same hours as their colleagues inside the office.”
The union argues that the current system undermines the integrity of the council’s salary grading structure, where employees on the same pay grade receive the same
annual salary but work different hours.
A USU analysis found that outdoor workers earn nearly 8% less per hour than their indoor counterparts as a result.
The dispute has raised broader questions around employee morale, equity, and productivity.
Citing national and international studies, the union claims that standardising hours could boost performance, lower absenteeism, and improve staff retention.
Riverina Water has yet to release an official response to the industrial action.
However, insiders suggest management is concerned about potential disruptions to essential
services if the walkout continues into the week.
With negotiations at a standstill, workers have vowed to maintain pressure until meaningful progress is made.
“Riverina Water can still fix this,” Mr Papps said.
“But they need to come back to the table with a commitment to fairness.”
Contact: Tim Brunero 0405 285 547