Ausgrid workers to strike

The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has announced that ETU members working for Ausgrid will take strike action over the company’s refusal to offer a wage rise that recognises the rise in the cost of living.

Ausgrid is now the third major power company in NSW to become embroiled in a dispute about workers’ pay and conditions, following industrial action by Transgrid and Endeavour Energy workers.

The Ausgrid action will affect Sydney and parts of regional NSW, with up to two million Ausgrid customers potentially facing inconveniences.

About 1600 ETU members have voted in favour of a range of actions including work stoppages, overtime bans, switching bans and locking bans. Electrical contractors rely on switching to turn the power off to do major work and maintenance, or connect power to properties.

Emergency work will not be affected by the action, however.

ETU members are seeking annual pay rises of 8% for the next three years, plus a 1% superannuation increase over two years in addition to the federal super guarantee of 0.5% increase in years one and two.

“Ausgrid workers’ real wages have gone backwards, with the cost-of-living crisis eroding the value of their last pay rise. Their experience is not recognised or rewarded, despite their critical role providing a safe and reliable electricity network for millions of NSW homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and infrastructure,” said ETU NSW/ACT Secretary Allen Hicks.

“ETU members haven’t yet received an offer that will allow them to keep up with cost-of-living increases,” Hicks added. “They have no choice but to continue to exercise their legal right to withdraw their labour until they get an offer that doesn’t send their wages backwards.”

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