'I'll wager $2000 I'm right'

Megan Lewis | 3rd July 2009

CASHED-up union organiser Peter Ward yesterday threw down a $2,000 challenge to Rockhampton Regional Council CEO over their ongoing wages dispute.

Australian Workers Union organiser Peter Ward wants the Rockhampton Regional Council CEO to "put your money where your mouth is".

Chris Ison

CASHED-up union organiser Peter Ward yesterday threw down a $2,000 challenge to Rockhampton Regional Council CEO over their ongoing wages dispute.

Mr Ward said chief executive Alastair Dawson should “put his money where his mouth is” and match his wager about who is right.

The pair disagree about the conditions of the recently signed enterprise bargaining agreement that council's outdoor workers entered into.

While Mr Ward claims council is not providing what was agreed to, Mr Dawson wasn't buying into the game and said the union organiser is wrong and was welcome to make an official complaint to the Industrial Relations Commission if he felt workers had been short-changed.

Last week Mr Dawson provided figures of how much workers earned.

“Typically outdoor workforce (gardeners, road crew asphalt) who provide non-technical labour have an annual salary of $54,000 which can range up to $91,000, given overtime provisions,” Mr Dawson said.

“All council staff receive a number of additional benefits as part of the EB agreement and as part of council's commitment to the wellbeing of its workforce.

“Examples of which include the ability to work a nine day fortnight, higher employer contributed superannuation, full uniform and protective equipment provision, professional development, flexible working agreements and significant maternity/paternity leave.”

When The Morning Bulletin contacted Mr Dawson about Mr Ward's offer of a bet yesterday, he said his stance had not changed.

“I suspect that Mr Ward knows he is in fact wrong due to his reluctance to follow the correct EBA process which he signed up to on behalf of his members,” Mr Dawson said.

Mr Ward earlier said he would bet $2,000 of his own money that council management had not provided on-call provisions for airport staff, among four contentious issues he'd identified.

“I challenge the CEO to take these wagers out of his own pocket to prove to the public who is fair dinkum,” he said.

Mr Ward said if he won the bet, he would donate the money to charity.