FORMER manager of RecycleWorld, the second-hand shop at the Redland Bay tip, has lashed out at Redland City Council for not extending a five-year contract.
Jaclyn Pampling said Redland City Council officers informed her employer, Bayside Treasures, in August its contract would be cut short by a year and the council would take over.
Seven people lost their jobs before the shop reopened under council management on August 21.
Redland council said the termination of the contract was a mutual agreement with Bayside Treasures owner Simone Medcraft.
It said the RecycleWorld contract was signed in August 2010 for a minimum of a year with provisions for one-year extensions at the council's sole discretion up to August 2, 2015.
Ms Pampling, who managed the shop for four years, said all 10 staff were initially told their jobs would be safe.
However, she said three days before the transition to council ownership, she was offered a part-time position for 10 hours a week on less money of $19 an hour.
The shop's opening hours were also reduced from four to two days, with no Sunday trading.
"The council staff said they would see how things went before putting everyone's hours up so they could eventually extend trading hours," Ms Pampling said.
"But just like they lied to my staff, they are lying about extending the hours it will never happen, even though Sunday was one of the most popular days."
Ms Medcraft said she was not surprised staff had been "misled" and the council had not fully paid her for stock.
"It's obvious, council is not interested in recycling and this has nothing to do with generating local business."
In 2012, Bayside Treasures and the council were in dispute over ownership of scrap metal dumped at the tip, with the council eventually contracting its sale to SimsMetal.
Recently, shoppers were surprised to see a list of 20 rules, including no arguing over items.
Redland City Council CEO Bill Lyon said the changes, including a pedestrian access gate, CCTV cameras and security officers, would improve safety.
He said the council would operate the site for two years, with a progress report in April.