Paid Mat Leave: MEU Wins Round One

Date: 15 August 2001

The MEU has defeated an attempt by the Local Government and Shires Association to frustrate the hearing of the Union's claim for paid maternity leave in local government.

A hearing of the Full Bench of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission today rejected an application by the LGSA to have the claim heard as a test case. The Commission decided that the case should proceed as an industry specific case regarding the provision of paid maternity leave in local government.

The MEU is arguing parity with other public sector employees. Federal public servants have access to 12 weeks paid leave. State public sector workers have had access to 9 weeks paid leave for decades. Few NSW Local Government workers currently have any entitlement to paid maternity leave.

MEU General Secretary Brian Harris said "Workers in local government have been denied paid maternity leave for too long - today's decision means that the Union's claim can proceed to be heard in November this year, as originally planned."

"The outcome enables the Union to move closer toward gaining wage justice for female workers in local government."

The MEU is also pursuing a Council by Council enterprise agreement campaign with recent wins at Leichhardt (12 Weeks) Canterbury Council (9 weeks), Burwood Council (12 weeks) Manly (9 weeks). The MEU urges councils in metropolitan and regional areas to support the Union campaign.

Contact: Lyn Fraser, MEU Research Officer ph: 9265 8211; 04122 77365; Julie Griffiths, MEU Womens Officer 0419 128 497.

For further information

Contact:	Brian Harris
Union:	Municipal Employees Union
Phone:	(02) 9265 8211
Fax:	(02) 9261 2265
Email:	help@meu.org.au
WWW:	http://www.meu.org.au

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