Union warns Newcastle waste contract risks worker conditions
The United Services Union opposes Newcastle's food waste tender, fearing it could privatise council jobs and cut worker pay.
Newcastle councillors will vote on Tuesday on a tender to run the city's new FOGO (food and garden waste) collection service. The United Services Union fears the service could shift core council work to private operators.
The state government has ordered every NSW council to offer FOGO services by July 2030 to cut landfill food waste. Newcastle's chief executive promised the union no jobs will be lost if the service is outsourced.
But union official Luke Hutchinson said privatisation of essential services usually leads to lower wages and less accountability. Hutchinson pointed to past privatisations of telecoms and electricity.
In those cases, he said, communities lost out. Newcastle is buying the service jointly with Port Stephens Council.
Processing work was already awarded to Bettergrow in March.
- July 2030
- FOGO deadline
- Newcastle and Port Stephens
- Joint councils
- Bettergrow
- Processing contractor
Why it mattersHow Newcastle handles the tender matters because it will decide if workers can keep secure pay and conditions if the service is privatised.
AustraliaIf Newcastle privatises the waste contract, other NSW councils may follow, changing employment conditions for council workers statewide and how essential services operate in local areas.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 d ago
