‘Starting to bite’: Key union representing 25k NSW council workers calls for four-day work week in response to fuel crisis

A key union representing thousands of council staff has called for a four-day work week and more flexible work from home rules in response to soaring fuel costs. The United Service Union, which represents 25,000 council workers in New South Wales, has launched an ambitious bid to secure a landmark court ruling for its members. The organisation has lodged an application with the Industrial Relations Commission seeking emergency powers to be brought in to relieve strain on workers. They claim soaring fuel prices driven by the conflict in the Middle East has resulted in council workers in NSW spending an extra $50-100 more at the bowser each week. In an application put before the commission on Thursday, they called for a string of extraordinary measures to be brought in to mitigate this. Should the bid prove successful, it would require employers to adopt the following approaches in the event of a fuel crisis: • Working from home as default • Four-day working weeks for those unable to work from home • Starting and finishing work at job sites where beneficial to employees • Providing employees with transportation to work The union’s application seeks an initial 12-month period, under which the measures would be triggered once weekly average fuel prices exceed $2 per litre. Daniel Papps, head of legal at USU, said: “Our members are telling us that the fuel crisis is really starting to bite. “We feel the application presents an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of our member. “By offering either home working or four-day working weeks it will help get more people of the road. “This would save our members in the pocket, but would also help to conserve fuel for the people that need it the most.” The application had its first hearing at the Industrial Relations Commission on Thursday, which Mr Papps said had allowed initial discussions to begin. A further hearing is scheduled next week. Mr Papps added: “We are hopefully we will be able to find a mutual position, but if we cannot we will be prepared to call for an order to be made. “Our hope and desire is that we can come to a common sense conclusion.” Ahead of the hearing, the union also wrote to all 128 councils in NSW outlining the impact the crisis is having on workers. In the letter, its general secretary Graeme Kelly wrote: “We recognise that councils are currently navigating significant operational pressures associated with fuel price increases and potential supply constraints. “Our shared objective is to maintain service continuity while ensuring that employees are supported and able to continue working safely and sustainable. “In this context, we are seeking a cooperative approach between councils and the USU to implement practical, temporary measures that support both operational resilience and workforce stability.” However a spokeswoman for NSW Local Government Association said there was no one-size-fits-all solution to the crisis. “We understand the union’s position in wanting to advocate in the best interests of their members,” she told the Australian Financial Review. “Councils across NSW are already managing the impact on their staff appropriately at this time.”