Peter breaks 40-year drought with council strike

Southern Downs council worker and AWU delegate Peter has been a member for almost forty years – and just a few weeks ago, walked out on strike with his crew for the very first time.

Peter began at the Stanthorpe depot in 1986 and joined the AWU a year later, when he became the delegate “by default”. Peter worked to rebuild union membership from his four workers when he started, to over fifty in the crew today.

“When I arrived, it was the end of the closed shops, and I made it a point to sign up as many people as I could,” Peter says. “You’ve got to have your strength in numbers.”

In the latest round of EBA negotiations, talks broke down after management put forward 3.5%, 3% and 3%, with wage rises delayed to February 2026. The offer also threatened voluntary Sundays and job security for workers. 100% of AWU members voted to strike, and over 200 workers across Stanthorpe and Warwick council depots walked off the job in September.

“I don’t know if management thought we were bluffing, but we weren’t,” Peter says. “The guys were genuinely upset. I’ve never seen so many people at this depot wanting to go out on strike. We signed up everyone in the yard, everyone in Warwick, and they all stuck together and marched.”

Less than a week later, management came back to the table with 6%, 5%, and 4% and agreed to stop the attacks on voluntary Sundays and job security – a huge improvement that was only possible because the entire workforce stood together.

Peter says the biggest key to success was securing the members. “The big thing is to grow your strength. If you have five people walk out, no one will take notice. But the more members you get, the more pressure you put on management.”

And his message to anyone on the fence? Join the union. “It’s the best insurance you’ll ever get. You can be in any industry, and things can turn sour pretty quick. If you haven’t got anyone there to back you up, you’re basically cactus.”

A huge thank you, Peter, to almost forty years union strong in Stanthorpe – and for leading the fight for a fair deal in Southern Downs Council!

Peter with South-Western District Secretary Joey Kaiser