AWU members at Parks Victoria to take protected industrial action this long weekend

Frontline AWU members at Parks Victoria will take protected industrial action this King’s Birthday long weekend.

After more than 12 months of negotiations have failed to produce a credible offer for the workers responsible for maintaining and protecting Victoria’s parks, reserves and natural landscapes.

The industrial action taken by members will be limited to the protected industrial action set out in the formal notice provided to Parks Victoria.

Parks Victoria management was given every opportunity to resolve this dispute. They have not taken it.

AWU Victoria Secretary Ronnie Hayden said the decision to proceed was not taken lightly.

“Parks Victoria has had every opportunity to resolve this dispute and has chosen not to. Our members are now left with no choice but to take protected industrial action. This is not what they wanted, but it is where management has brought us.”

AWU Victorian Branch President Ross Kenna said the action reflected the strength of feeling among members.

“These are the workers who keep Victoria’s parks running for every family that uses them. They deserve to be paid and classified for the work they actually do. Parks Victoria’s failure to deliver a fair offer has forced our members to take this protected industrial action, and that responsibility sits entirely with management.”

AWU Organiser Lisa Pearce, who visited members on site this morning, said the mood was one of resolve.

“I was out with our members on site this morning and the resolve is clear. They are standing together, they are positive, and they are not backing down. They have been patient for more than 12 months and they deserve to have that patience rewarded with a fair outcome.”

The protected industrial action notified to Parks Victoria includes:

• One-hour rolling work stoppages;

• A periodic ban on opening parks to public access;

• A periodic ban on closing parks to public access;

• An indefinite ban on travel between work centres;

• An indefinite ban on acting in higher duties and/or performing work additional to the duties associated with members’ position descriptions;

• An indefinite ban on undertaking duties additional to members’ position descriptions;

• An indefinite ban on enforcement and compliance activities; and

• An indefinite ban on Ranger talks.

Decisions about the operation, access arrangements and management of any park or facility over the long weekend are a matter for Parks Victoria.

Members are expected to take this protected industrial action at a number of sites across Victoria, including:

Murray River / Echuca region

• Murray River Reserve

• Echuca Regional Park

• Wills Bend Campgrounds 1 and 2

• Terrick Terrick National Park

• Eagles Nest

• Shack Bay

• George Bass Coastal Walk

• Adams Creek

• Christie’s Beach

• Mount Terrick

Wilsons Promontory

• Mt Oberon Summit Track

Kurth Kiln Regional Park

• Scout Loop Campground

• Magazine Track Campground

• Heritage Fence Campground

• Kurth Kiln Picnic Area

• Mortimer Picnic Area and Campground

• Nash Creek Campground

• Freeman Mill Campground

• Four Brothers Rocks Lookout

Colac and Otways region

• Addis Bay Picnic Ground

• Jamieson Campground

• Allenvale Campground and Carpark

• Blanket Leaf Picnic Ground

• Big Hill Campground

• Sheoak Falls Carpark

• Sheoak Picnic Ground Upper and Lower Carparks

• Erskine Falls Access Road

Yarra Ranges

• Maroondah Reservoir Park

• Badger Weir Picnic Ground

• Donnelly’s Picnic Ground

• Upper Yarra Campground

• Fernshaw Picnic Ground

• Mt Donna Buang

• Rainforest Gallery

• Redwood Forest

The AWU remains ready to resolve this dispute. The union’s position is that the current offer on the table, combined with a firm commitment to ranger reclassification, would meet the core needs of frontline workers and is consistent with the Victorian Government’s wages policy.