Unions to march against Geelong budget cuts

UNION branches and community members will march through Geelong West on Saturday in a last-minute bid to pressure the City of Greater Geelong into rethinking its 2023/24 budget.

Funding for library services, cuts to staff resources and ongoing financial uncertainty are the key concerns for demonstrators who will attend a Pakington Street march this weekend.

Geelong Women Unionist Network co-convenor Adele Walsh aimed to build on the local union’s movement’s “proud history of working with the community on community matters”.

“This draft budget affects so many members of our community, so we thought it was really important that we offer the community a last chance to come together and democratically engage, and let the council know our thoughts before they go ahead and vote on Tuesday night,” Ms Walsh said.

Australian Services Union (ASU) Victoria and Tasmania branch and Geelong Trades Hall Council are among the lead organisers of the coming demonstration and have encouraged community members to attend with their children and families.

ASU Victoria and Tasmania branch secretary Lisa Darmanin said the council’s flagging of $4.5 million worth of further “efficiencies” that it would trim when it appoints a new CEO has also raised concern.

“We are very worried about what this is going to mean for staff and services.”

Saturday’s event will start at Geelong West Town Hall at 10am before a march south on Pakington Street to West Park.

COGG received close to 1000 submissions to its draft budget in its four-week exhibition period following its release in April.

The council will meet next Tuesday (June 27) when it will vote on whether to adopt the spending plan or make any changes.

A $762,000 shortfall will reduce weekend hours at local libraries under the proposed budget, and the ASU says the city is also poised to cut 19 jobs in an organisational restructure, with more likely to come.