Green light for job cuts?

Last week the Fair Work Commission handed down its findings from negotiations between publicly owned Essential Energy and the unions representing the majority of workers employed by the company. The negotiations aimed to settle on a revised enterprise agreement and have been in play since June 2015, when the previous agreement expired. Among the points of contention in discussion were provisions for redundancy and outsourcing.

Unions representing workers say the upshot is approval for Essential Energy to cut 600 regional jobs across NSW, as the second draft of the proposed agreement states: “From the commencement date of this Workplace Determination until its nominal expiry date of 30 June 2018, Essential Energy will not declare redundant in excess of 600 roles.”

They say the findings also open the door for unlimited redundancies after that date, as well as the replacement of employees with outsourced contractors.

In response to the results, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and United Services Union (USU) called on the NSW Government to intervene, saying that the economic and social impact of the cuts will be far-reaching. The unions reached out to new National Party leader and NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who declined to intervene in the matter. The ETU and USU say this is a direct contradiction of Baliaro’s election promises, which included promises to create and secure local energy jobs.

Union representatives say it’s not too late for the NSW Government (as the owner of the entire Essential Energy Network) to assist in overturning the decision and are hopeful that worker meetings to discuss the next steps will assist in paving the way to a more favourable outcome.