Strike forces shops to clean up city’s streets

Jessica Benton
Central Geelong traders have taken it upon themselves to empty overflowing bins and sweep up rubbish in attempts to keep city streets clean during a council workers strike.
Rubbish is blowing through the central city area as workers refuse to empty bins or levy parking fines as their union pushes for a 14 per cent pay rise.
Moorabool Street’s Thomas Jewelers has resorted to sending storeman Joe Bastida out on the street to tidy up in front of the shop.
Mr Bastida said he had swept the streets and picked up rubbish every morning since the council strike began.
“I’m just trying to tidy it up and make it a bit better for everyone,” he said.
“It’s such a mess and it’s terribly disappointing of the council.”
Mark Gealer, of nearby Sires Menswear, said the mess was painting an unattractive picture of the city.
“The bins are overflowing and there’s rubbish lining the gutters and streets all over the city,” he said.
“It’s probably reflecting on the town and the council in many ways.
“I think they (council) need to invoke some emergency powers and get it all cleaned up.”
A city shopper, who did not want to be identified, said the strike had some merit.
“They’re doing it for a reason,” he said.
“It’s fair enough – we all want a bit more money.”
The resident was unworried about City Hall warnings that a successful union bid would lead to higher rates to cover a $26 million increase in wages.
“If we want the streets clean, we have to pay for it,” he said.
City of Greater Geelong executives and union officials have been in talks on the wages dispute for months.
Australian Services Union has invoked members to implement bans on 11 activities including attending staff meetings with supervisors or team leaders, some street cleaning work, issuing infringement notices and processing rates or infringement payments.
The union wants a 14 per cent increase over three years. The City has offered three annual rises of 3.75 per cent.
The City and union are set to resume talks this Friday.
The Independent reported last week that council staff could face the sack or have wages docked if City Hall deemed their strike actions breached employment conditions.
The union initiated the work bans after successfully rallying against City Hall sacking two staff for accepting steak sandwiches for completing unauthorised repairs on a car park at Leopold Sportsman’s Club.
The City later re-employed both men after widespread union condemnation and media coverage.