Gillian Davy, Melbourne
Despite pressure from the local Union Solidarity group and other residents, and opposition from its two Greens' members, Moreland City Council voted on May 22 to put control of the Coburg Leisure Complex into the hands of Belgravia, a company with a bad record on workers' wages and conditions.
Two months ago, the 90 casual, part-time and full-time workers employed at the leisure centre negotiated an enterprise agreement with the YWCA, the centre's management. Australian Services Union industrial officer Igor Grattan is concerned that Belgravia will push the introduction of individual contracts (Australian Workplace Agreements). According to Grattan, only the YWCA and council-managed leisure centres across Melbourne have union agreements.
Belgravia began obtaining contracts for local government services immediately after the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering under the former Jeff Kennett state government. The company has rapidly increased its share of the leisure centre business by undercutting the wages and conditions offered by the YWCA. Belgravia pays the predominantly young and itinerant leisure centre workers it employs up to 25% less than their counterparts employed by the YWCA or at council-managed centres.
A Union Solidarity sponsored public meeting in Brunswick Town Hall on May 17 unanimously passed a motion urging the Moreland council to bring Coburg Leisure Complex under council management.
On May 22, 30 concerned residents crowded into the council chambers to hear the discussion on the future of the leisure centre. Despite having been advised beforehand that the council deliberations would be open to observers, the public gallery was closed and residents were asked to leave.
From Â鶹ӳ» Weekly, May 31, 2006.
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