THE Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has taken on power companies Essential Energy and Ausgrid before the Fair Work Commission.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Yesterday the union was before the commission arguing against the introduction of policies by the publicly-owned companies that would allow them to sack 2500 workers across NSW.
Commission president Justice Ian Ross, who is presiding over the hearing, will determine whether the ETU and other unions have grounds to take the matter to the Federal Court to seek a binding interpretation of key components of the current enterprise agreement.
The union said the outcome of the hearing would determine the course of subsequent legal action, but that it was just one of many steps that were being taken to try to stop the job cuts.
ETU deputy secretary Neville Betts said the union met with Premier Baird in June, as well as presenting a range of alternative options to management at both of the companies, in an attempt to minimise the need for any job losses.
“Power sector unions seem to be the only people interested in future-proofing our electricity network by retaining specialised, highly-skilled electricity jobs across NSW,” Mr Betts said.
“The ETU has presented a range of alternatives to the proposed mass sackings, including job sharing, roster changes, voluntary redundancy mix-and-match programs and expansion of the businesses.”