Workers at Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre (AKAC) in聽Marrickville聽have taken action after聽being stood down without pay聽at the beginning of the lockdown.
The workers, who are members of the United Workers鈥 Union (UWU), held two actions, a speak-out outside the pool on July 8 and an online community rally on July 10.
At the speak-out, workers called for paid pandemic leave for all and held signs that demanded casual workers be 鈥渒ept afloat鈥.
All staff at the centre have been stood down without pay. Full time and part-time staff have been told to access their annual leave.
Many of these are young students who do not have savings to fall back on. Many are unable to access the COVID-19 disaster payment because they are already receiving the youth allowance payment, which is not enough to live on in this city.
AKAC is a council-owned pool, but is managed by聽Belgravia Leisure, which . Its CEO Geoff Lord is one of Australia鈥檚 richest 200 people.
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why companies like Belgravia 鈥渁re allowed to profit from something built by the community without giving anything back鈥.
AKAC management met with the workers on July 5, but described the meeting as a negotiation which was not conducted 鈥渋n good faith鈥. Management鈥檚 only offer to workers were access to mental health services and 鈥渂oot camps鈥 during the lockdown.
罢丑别听聽drew around 100 people.聽Organisers have asked for 鈥渟elfies鈥 to be sent in holding signs demanding paid pandemic leave and supporting AKAC workers. Many donned goggles and swimming caps in solidarity with the pool staff.
The UWU has initiated 聽supporting workers鈥 call for paid pandemic leave as well as an聽聽to City of Sydney Council to reconsider its contracts to Belgravia Leisure.
The AKAC is set to be returned to Inner West Council management in July next year.
[The stood down workers are asking you to show your support by .]