On Friday Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and the rest of the Labor Party’s candidates in next month’s council election signed a pledge with the United Services Union to “protect council jobs” by promising to oppose the outsourcing of council services and maintaining current levels of full time employment.

While the pledge doesn’t mean a Labor council would not use private contractors for tendering, Cr Nelmes said Labor would oppose the “outsourcing and privatising” of services.

The pledge says the council would “reject the use of labor hire contractors” and “support procurement of Australian products”.

Cr Nelmes said she had run a “progressive” council that had run operational surpluses while keeping services like the Beresfield Pool and Blackbutt Reserve in public hands.

Luke Hutchinson from the USU said the union would approach other candidates about signing the pledge.