Fee free weekend as city staff make a point
Newcastle Council employees are continuing their industrial action against threats to jobs and services.
The public will get free access to a number of services as part of the council-workers’ protest.
After a meeting this week, it was decided that a fee free weekend will be held on Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 10th of August.
That weekend, union members say they will not collect tip fees, parking infringements or entry fees to the Blackbutt natural reserve.
The free weekend is the latest in an ongoing stoush, following a motion of no confidence in senior management last week over a decision to privatise the city's pools.
United Services Union representatives say members are worried that the Council will cut costs by outsourcing services, leading to major job losses and a decline in the standard of council faculties.
A numbers of motions were passed at meeting which had to be held outside of a public sportsground, after the group was locked out of the council-run facility.
The United Services Union says it has invited Newcastle senior management to talk over workers’ concern, but it is understood that they have not arranged a formal meeting.