More than 500 Australian Services Union (ASU) members employed across Melbourne councils are expected to take protected industrial action on Wednesday 17 June as a long-running pay dispute continues during negotiations for a new multi-employer enterprise agreement.
The industrial action forms part of negotiations involving eight metropolitan councils, including Hume City Council, and four unions representing more than 10,000 local government employees.
According to information previously published by Hume City Council, the bargaining process is the first multi-employer enterprise agreement negotiated across metropolitan councils. Formal negotiations began in March after the Fair Work Commission authorised the process in December 2025.
Council says ASU members secured approval through a Fair Work Commission ballot process to undertake industrial action. The union has previously used work stoppages and work bans during the negotiations.
The ASU is seeking wage increases of 10% in the first year and about 24% over the life of the proposed agreement, according to Council – the duration of the proposed agreement was not stated. Hume says increases of that scale would place significant pressure on council budgets under Victoria’s rate-capping system.
The extent of any disruption to Hume City Council services remains unclear because participation is voluntary and limited to eligible union members. Council says it generally does not know the full impact of work stoppages until the day they occur.
Previous industrial action, including a 24-hour work stoppage on 5 May, affected waste collections, library programs and other council services.
Council says it will continue negotiating in good faith while working to maintain essential services and minimise disruption to residents.
The Australian Services Union said members would attend a rally in Melbourne on 17 June, joined by workers, union members and community supporters. ASU members have been asked to gather at Trades Hall from 10.30am before marching to Parliament from about 11.30am.