Employees at Stockland Green Hills are being bullied and harassed by security personnel and ordered to park their cars in surrounding residential streets to free up spaces in the centre's multi-level car park.
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The Newcastle and Northern Branch of the Shop Distributives and Allied Employees' Association (union) made the claims this week, describing Stockland's actions to ban employees from parking in the centre as a breach of consent.
The union's assistant secretary David Bliss, said the matter has wide ramifications including security issues for staff and is an imposition on residents surrounding the development who have lost street parking.
The union is circulating a petition among the centre's 2500-strong workforce in a bid to have some of the centre's 3000 plus spaces freed up for workers.
"Residents are outraged because they are losing their street parking," Mr Bliss said.
"Other businesses outside the centre are also losing valuable street parking for their customers."
The union has written to Maitland City Council asking it to intervene and enforce the development consent.
“That consent requires all parking spaces in the development be made available to everyone,” Mr Bliss said.
A spokesperson for Stockland said Stockland is committed to a safe and inclusive working environment and is currently exploring opportunities to introduce more options for staff parking.
“The car park is at 90 per cent occupancy during peak periods, this is prior to Hoyts cinemas officially opening later this month,” the spokesperson said.
“As part of the redevelopment, and in line with development approval, Stockland delivered 3100 free car parks.
“To provide a positive experience for customers, Stockland has encouraged employees, contractors, retailers and their employees to park in alternate areas.
The spokesperson said Stockland is also asking workers to consider taking another form of transport to the centre to ensure customer parking is available at peak times.
“There are exceptions where staff parking within the centre can be accommodated, including late night shifts, where employee mobility is a consideration and in severe weather conditions,” the spokesperson said.
Mr Bliss said security guards stand in the car park stopping vehicles entering the premises and blocking anyone wearing store uniforms. “It's a physical and confronting presence for workers to encounter," he said.
He has not spoken to Stockland management but has shared the correpondence with them. "We intend to speak to them once employees have had their say. If Stockland wants to be part of the community, they have an obligation to respect everyone. The centre can't be successful without customers, tenants and workers all working together," Mr Bliss said. "At this stage they are disrespecting the entire community."
The union is about to canvass residents though a letter box drop apologising on behalf of workers for parking in their streets.
Mr Bliss will soon speak to councillors to see if a Notice of Motion can be presented to a council meeting, requiring council officers to enforce the parking consent.
"Why write a consent if no one is prepared to support it. There are 3056 spaces (Stockland quotes 3100 spaces) there and they do not say for customers only. All users of the centre should have access to those spots," Mr Bliss said. He has also sent council pictorial evidence of numerous empty spaces taken during normal trading hours.
An employee who spoke to Farfax Media but declined to be named, said security guards walk around with clip boards taking down workers' number plates.
"I tried to get a street park on Tuesday morning at 7am but they were all taken," the worker said. “The parking situation will get worse when the cinema opens. I think boom gates and paid parking will be introduced soon."
The redevelopment of Stockland Green Hills more than doubled the size of the centre to around 70,000 square metres and now features over 220 retailers. The spokesperson said the centre offers 3100 free customer car parking spaces
The Stockland Green Hills redevelopment created 250 permanent, full time jobs in retail and hospitality.
