AUSGRID EBA

vote for Protected Action

ETU members at Ausgrid are voting in a Protected Action Ballot as they campaign for a fair EBA

The action vote was launched by ETU delegates on 21 April following six months of unproductive negotiations. More than 2,000 members of the ETU and combined unions will vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to a list of potential actions ranging from bans to stoppages. The ballot was unanimously endorsed by ETU members at 16 depot meetings. ‘We tried talking with the company in nearly 30 meetings since October 2020,’ said ETU organiser Darran Miller.

‘Ausgrid made some minor concessions, which the ETU welcomes. But the company failed to meet the three core demands overwhelmingly endorsed by ETU members: job security, a fair pay rise and no loss of conditions.’

The company wants to impose a one-year wage freeze, which comes after several years of previous wage freezes. Workers would receive pay rises of just 1 and 1.5 per cent in the last two years of the agreement, under management’s offer. Ausgrid also seeks to force day workers on to shift work and to change start and finish times without agreement or penalty rates. The company, which is majority-owned by industry superannuation funds, has refused to pass on any legislated super increases during the EBA.

Ausgrid is in the process of axing 500 jobs, on top of more than 2,000 cut since 2014.

‘Our members reject this toxic mix of a wage freeze, job cuts and forced shift work. The strong message from the depots is workers are ready to take action unless the company significantly improves the offer,’ said Darran. The ETU Negotiating Committee, comprising 26 senior delegates, two ETU organisers and ETU NSW Secretary Allen Hicks, tabled a wages proposal on April: 3 per cent annual increases, making 9 per cent over the life of the EBA. This was quickly rejected by Ausgrid, along with almost every item of the union log of claims. ‘Our members are frustrated and angry at the company’s failure to negotiate a fair outcome. There is overwhelmingly support for the next stage of the EBA campaign, which may include industrial, political and community action,’ said Darran.

The Protected Action Ballot allows members to send a powerful message to management.

A strong PAB turnout combined with a strong NO vote will confirm the verdict of ETU members in surveys and depot meetings – members are ready to take action to achieve a fair EBA outcome.

The ETU remains willing to negotiate a fair and reasonable outcome.