21 May 2010
The ASU recently lodged a federal submission on the issue of skills shortages in regional Australia contending that people will relocate to regional communities for jobs with good pay and conditions supported by communities with properly funded local services. These skills shortages are currently having a dire effect on local government and public services in many parts of regional Australia, resulting in a downwards spiral. This has been exacerbated by workers moving to the lucrative mining industry as a result of the current resources boom.
The ASU submission covers all employees in the local government sector and makes the following points:
• Career paths and rewarding jobs need to be developed in regional Australia so that relocating is viewed as an opportunity for workers wanting to advance their career.
• Regional Australia often finds it difficult to fill unskilled positions. We think that low skilled workers will be willing relocate to work in these unskilled service industries (e.g. McDonalds) if career paths to more skilled positions and training opportunities are available that provide low skilled workers the opportunity to develop their skills and enhance their employment opportunities.
• Marketing relocating to regional areas as a 'lifestyle change' is pure spin if it's not backed up by enforceable industrial mechanisms that gives workers access to flexible and family friendly working conditions.
• A national recruitment website and national continuity of service scheme for the local government sector to ensure workers know about opportunities in the sector encourage them to relocate without loss of entitlements.
• Direct funding for regional Australia is needed to reverse the deteriorating affect that contracting out, cost shifting, and amalgamations have had on local government services for regional Australia. People will relocate, or stay in regional Australia unless there are local government services to support their needs.
You can download the submission below and find it published on the Inquiry website
The ASU is also concerned about employment reduction in regional and country Australia.
"After all, the reduction in any employment (including local government, water, electricity and transport) in regional Australia means one less pay packet in a town or region and less money being spent in the town and less overall employment," said ASU Assistant National Secretary Greg McLean.
This latest submission builds on the work the ASU has undertaken on career and skills shortages and training in our public services industries.
The ASU has been a long term campaigner for skills, training and the long term employment of ASU members in the public services areas of:
• local government
• energy & electricity
• water
• railways & public transport
• state & federal government services
The ASU also works with range of industry skills councils to promote career paths, training and long term retention and recognition of public services employees.
http://www.asu.asn.au/media/localgovt/20100521_regional.html
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