Cook Shire Council is pleased to announce that a majority of eligible Indoor and Outdoor employees have voted YES to adopt the new Certified Agreements—an important milestone for our organisation and the wider community.
This positive outcome brings Cook Shire Council in line with industry best practice and ensures both Stream A (Indoor) and Stream B (Outdoor) employees are aligned under comparable conditions. This alignment not only strengthens fairness and consistency across the organisation, it also increases efficiency in future negotiations and supports our ongoing efforts to attract and retain skilled employees.
The result reflects the respectful and constructive negotiation process between Council, union representatives, and our employees. Thank you to everyone who reviewed the proposed Agreements, attended information sessions, asked questions, and took part in the vote. Your engagement is essential in building a transparent and fair workplace.
Ballots were formally opened and counted on Wednesday 19 November 2025 by members of Council’s HR Team alongside the nominated union representative, in accordance with the Industrial Relations Act 2016.
What this means for employees and community
The new Agreements introduce a number of modern, employee-focused improvements that support wellbeing, balance, and long-term sustainability. Key enhancements include:
- Paid Parental Leave: 8 weeks paid parental leave and 1 week paid partner leave for eligible employees.
- Nine-Day Fortnight: A formalised and equitable 9-day fortnight option for improved work–life balance.
- Updated Wage Increases: A structured series of wage increases commencing July 2024, with the final increase applied in July 2027, taking the overall wage schedule through to June 2028.
These improvements reflect Council’s commitment to creating a workplace that values wellbeing, fairness, and long-term sustainability.
Next steps
Council will now proceed to lodge both the Indoor and Outdoor Certified Agreements with the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) for formal certification.
We thank our employees for their thoughtful participation throughout this process and look forward to rolling out these improvements that strengthen both our workforce and the services we deliver to the Cook Shire community.
If you would like to learn more about joining the team at Cook Shire Council, visit Careers at Council.