Staff at City of Newcastle will get up to 20 days of paid domestic violence leave under a proposed new Enterprise Agreement.

City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath says in-principle agreement had been reached in relation to the Enterprise Agreement 2023 with a number of new and enhanced provisions.

As well as doubling the previous amount of DV leave, the new agreement provides for cultural leave, miscarriage leave for both partners, expanded parental leave and provisions for returned service people to use paid leave for Remembrance and Anzac Days.

It also contains 100 per cent tool allowances for apprentices and trainees, as well as a one-off Christmas payment and wage increases to offset inflation.

The union representing NSW local government workers has hailed the negotiations that led to the new agreement, saying it shows unions and councils can work together.

Union throws down gauntlet

USU official Luke Hutchinson says the agreement will give City of Newcastle some of the most progressive leave provisions in the government sector.

I certainly would challenge all councils to match these provisions, especially around family domestic violence, miscarriage and paid parental leave.

Luke Hutchinson, USU official

“I certainly would challenge all councils to match these provisions, especially around family domestic violence, miscarriage and paid parental leave which are important progressive provisions that assist everyone in the community, and that’s what they should be aspiring to,” he told Government News.

The new provisions followed a survey of staff in 2021, Mr Bath says.

“City of Newcastle is pleased to provide industry leading benefits and employment conditions to our employees that reflect our organisation’s commitment to inclusion, diversity and equity,” he said in a statement.

City of Newcastle was one of the first councils in NSW to introduce domestic leave provisions in 2018.

The agreement is due to be ratified before the NSW Industrial Relations Commission on December 13.