ABOUT 200 members of the United Services Union rallied in Newcastle’s Civic Park today passing a vote of no confidence in Newcastle City Council management.
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The union said it was angry at the council’s decision to privatise the management of four of its five inland swimming pools, leaving the jobs of council pool staff up in the air.
Union organiser Luke Hutchinson told the rally the outsourcing of other council roles was also in the wings, including beach lifeguard services, and jobs in the council’s theatre and function sector.
He also raised concerns the council was set to introduce drug and alcohol urine testing of employees.
‘‘Enough is enough,’’ he said.
‘‘We need to send a clear message to management sitting over the road in the ivory tower that it’s not on.’’
The union voted unanimously to seek meetings with council management and has given it seven days to respond.
The council said drug and alcohol testing was introduced 12 months ago but the policy is reviewed annually. A spokesperson confirmed that under a draft review of the policy, it will become mandatory for a test to be carried out on a staff member involved in an ‘‘incident’’, such as a car accident.
Breath tests or saliva swabs will be taken, with a urine test only taken if other tests are unable to be taken.
The random testing of staff is included in the draft changes.
The union argued that the tests will impinge on ‘‘the lifestyle choices’’ of workers, but the council has argued the move is all about the safety of staff and is line with most other modern workplaces.
The council’s director of infrastructure Frank Cordingley said the decision to privatise the management of the pools would create a better deal for ratepayers.
‘‘We are following in the footsteps of councils around the country who are looking at alternative and cost effective ways to deliver services to the community,’’ he said.
The council’s general manager Ken Gouldthorp said some of the council’s eight pool attendants will be offered a redundancy, but some will likely be deployed into other roles.
He also denied any plans to outsource beach lifeguard services.
The Queensland-based Lane 4 Aquatics are expected to take control of pools at Mayfield, Lambton, Wallsend and Stockton before the start of this year’s summer swimming season.
UNION members at Newcastle City Council will meet at midday to discuss the council's decision to privatise four inland pools and Beresfield Golf Course.
United Services Union organiser Luke Hutchinson said members were concerned the change could result in job losses.
"On top of these concerns of job security there are several other serious matters that have arisen over the past couple of days and our members have simply had enough," Mr Hutchinson said.
Workers will meet in Civic Park at midday.
AFTER years of debate and resistance from some quarters, four of Newcastle’s five inland pools and Beresfield Golf Course were last night privatised by Newcastle council.
Pools at Mayfield, Lambton and Wallsend will be signed over on a five-year lease, while Stockton pool will be put in the hands of a private operator for just three years so the lease will expire at the same time as the lease on the nearby Stockton tourist park.
The council has decided to continue operating Beresfield pool for another year, but will review attendances after opening it up for the full summer season.
The move suggests that the pool could be sold or closed if attendances don’t improve.
A company called Lane 4 Pty Ltd was announced as the successful tenderer for the pool lease. Little is known about the company but it beat five other tenderers to the contract including a local consortium of pool managers, a bid by the council employees who currently operate the pools, as well as bids from major players in the pool industry, YMCA and Belgravia Leisure.
A three-year private lease of Beresfield Golf Course went to a company called Golf North.
Again, little is known of the company but it is believed to have links to the owners of Hunter Valley Gardens.
The council announced the private leases after meeting in confidential session on Tuesday night.
A spokesperson said the council’s first priority would be to talk to staff affected by the decisions, as well as community and sporting groups affected. It is not yet known if staff will be offered redundancies or redeployed to other roles.
Councillor Michael Osborne said he had opposed the leasing of the pools.
‘‘The savings being made by the council are minimal,’’ he said.
‘‘The council should have been looking at opportunities to make the pools better, like adding yoga, pilates classes and gyms to the operations.
‘‘I’m very worried about the future of Beresfield pool. I think there’s a very strong chance that the local community will lose it.
‘‘I’m also very concerned that the council insists on putting these discussions into confidential sessions. The commercial aspects should be confidential, but everything else should be done in public.’’
The new private operators are expected to be in place before the start of the summer swimming season.
