Garbage truck drivers' union foreshadows more strikes

The Fair Work Commission was set to rule whether Friday's garbage truck driver strike in Canberra was in breach of the Fair Work Act on Friday afternoon.

A spokeswoman for Suez had told Fairfax Media they believed the protected industrial action order ended on Wednesday.

But contractor Suez withdrew its application before the commission to stop the action going ahead, Transport Workers' Union ACT secretary Klaus Pinkas said.

"Our understanding of the Act is that industrial action just has to commence within one month of the ballot taking place [on June 9]," Mr Pinkas said.

"How it works is you need to take some industrial action within the 30-day period which we've done. It doesn't mean you can't take it after the 30 days. If you don't take the industrial action within 30 days then you have to reapply for an extension. Our members took action prior to the 30 days expiring so that means they're entitled to take industrial action after the 30 days."

The union and Suez have been embroiled in fierce negotiations since February.

Drivers are fighting for increased severance pay and a pay rise of 3 per cent.

Mr Pinkas said Suez recently revised their pay offer down to an increase of 1.6 per cent per year.

He also disputed the company's claims that on average Canberra drivers earned $95,000 a year.

"I want to put on the record as well that the conversations out there around these guys earning $95,000 a year, they don't, they earn $62,000 a year and anything above that is earned in overtime so can you imagine how much overtime they'd actually have to work to make $95,000," he said.

"They work a lot of overtime but to get to $95,000 is just a huge amount of overtime. I'm not saying that none of them do but if they do get close to that figure the amount of overtime they're working is just monstrous."

Friday's strike was third for Canberra's garbage collectors in recent weeks

Mr Pinkas outlined any further strike action would occur on Fridays, so pickups missed could be cleaned up over the weekend.

"Our fight isn't with the people of the ACT. Our fight is with Suez so the whole idea of industrial action isn't to inconvenience the people of the ACT, it's to put pressure on the contractor to come to the party," he said.

Meanwhile the ACT Government has faced increasing pressure to help both parties reach an amicable agreement soon.

But Michael Trushell, director of ACT NoWaste, said they were barred by the Fair Work Act from entering negotiations as a third party.

He said it is yet unclear what the cost of the strikes is to taxpayers but they are in discussions with Suez regarding them.

"Our focus was ensuring we could minimise the inconvenience to the community where we could rather than focusing on the bill so at this stage we've got an indication but until we finalise that with Suez we won't be discussing that. Certainly it does come at a cost however it's important that the waste is collected," Mr Trushell said.

He said the directorate had previously been pleased with the garbage disposal service Suez provided and it has a long-term contract with the company.

Municipal services minister Meegan Fitzharris said she shared the frustration of the Canberra community.

"It is disappointing that these services have once again been disrupted. I would like to see this matter resolved quickly, so that the impact to residents is minimised and this essential service continues to be delivered to households. I have met and continue to communicate to both parties my view that they work together to get this matter resolved as quickly as possible," she said.

"As the ACT government is not a party to the negotiations we are unable to formally intervene in the dispute at this stage through the Fair Work Commission. The ACT Government will continue to work with both workers and Suez to mitigate the disruption including, where possible, extra pick-up services."

Residents whose garbage pick-up is missed should leave their bins out on the kerb as catchup services are scheduled for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

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