Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has announced a two-year wage freeze will be applied across Brisbane City Council, including all Councillors, managers and staff.
These measures are being implemented to help absorb the significant financial impact of the coronavirus crisis on Council’s budget and ensure that essential services can continue.
“There will be no pay rises and that includes everyone from the top down. This is not the time for it,” Cr Schrinner said.
“We know that there will be a significant hit to Council’s budget as a result of the current health and economic crisis, and as revenue falls, costs need to be carefully managed to keep the budget strong.
“Now is the time to tighten our belts to ensure that as a council we are in a strong position to launch into recovery mode once the virus threat diminishes.
“We need to make decisions like this to ensure we can remain strong and ready to rebound.”
The next Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) which applies to most of Council’s almost 10,000 staff is due to be the subject of union negotiations from mid-April.
Cr Schrinner said Council’s last EBA provided a 2.5% annual wage increase.
“I am confident the unions will understand the unprecedented circumstances our city finds itself in and will support this move,” he said.
“If we can achieve a pay freeze across all levels of council, we can save up to $36 million over two years, which will be an important buffer in ensuring jobs are retained and services continue.
“It is an important part of our strategy to ensure we are able to keep all our staff. We also do not want to add to the already critical unemployment crisis facing us as businesses close.
“Our city is hurting; our residents and businesses are struggling, and we must make decisions that ensure our essential services continue and our major projects are built.
Lord Mayoral and councillor salary is set by the Independent Remuneration Tribunal, which set councillors salary based on State MPs pay and allowances.
Councillors have not received a pay increase since 2018, and Cr Schrinner said this should be extended for a further two years.