Council expects to make remaining appointments soon
Central Coast Council has acknowledged that one quarter of its staff still remain to be appointed.
However, it expects these will be made this month.
The acknowledgement came from the council following comments from the United Services Union about the indeterminate state of some of Council's Peninsula employees, reported in the last edition of Peninsula News
A Council executive manager Ms Kellie Reeves said that 1600 staff had been appointed in the new organisational structure.
"This equates to approximately 75 per cent of full time equivalent staff," Ms Reeves said.
"The progress of the appointment of the remaining staff is subject to further consultation."
"Council is on track to complete the direct appointments of staff into the new organisational structure over the next month of September.
"Staff appointments have been made across most business areas including at depots, childcare centres, libraries and waste facilities in both south and north locations," she said.
"Council is committed to following the Local Government Award requirements which require consultation with significantly affected individuals and their union, where applicable.
"As Council continues to bring together the operations of the former Gosford and Wyong Councils to one single regional Council, the focus areas in relation to staff matters for the next three months are a unified salary scale as a first step to creating equity for staff as a fair and transparent salary framework is developed."
Ms Reeves said a single method for determining the value of a job has been adopted and is in implementation.
"No Central Coast Council employee will have a reduction to their salary, or salary range and all general Award increases will apply.
"Salary progression processes remain the same.
"Any staff not placed into a role will have their salary maintained and be provided with meaningful work until such time as they are appointed to an equivalent position," she said.
Another priority is progressing a trial of a nine-day fortnight in some business areas that currently do not operate under these conditions.
"Both former Councils operated some individual business areas differently," she said.
Staff safety was another priority area, with a transition to a compliant Standard Outdoor Uniform across all business areas in the north and south.
"This includes transitioning to day/night compliant, UPF 50+ long pants and long sleeved collared shirts.
"The unified Workplace Health and Safety Committee will oversee a workplace trial of newly available compliant fabric options in a variety of operational environments to determine the best viable fabrics and designs to improve worker comfort.
"Council's commitment to all staff is fairness and equity and working through all inconsistencies with a consultative committee which includes union delegates.
"Decisions are balanced to meet Council's core business purpose of serving the community," Ms Reeves said.
SOURCE:
Media statement, 28 Aug 2017
Kellie Reeves, Central Coast Council