Power Workers Stay Firm
Newcastle Herald
Friday February 1, 2008
ELECTRICITY workers have refused to back down from work bans at Eraring power station, despite recommendations from the Industrial Relations Commission.
A mass meeting of workers voted yesterday to continue to refuse to co-operate with government advisers over the planned privatisation of electricity assets.Public Service Association organiser Bill Ferguson said workers felt the NSW Government was going back on its commitments by sending high-priced law, accountancy and public relations firms to gather information so early in the year.Electricity workers in the state's distribution network are poised to implement a similar ban.Electrical Trade Union state secretary Bernie Riordan said distribution workers had been asked to provide detailed financial advice to treasury officials, sparking suspicions the Government may push further with privatisation plans. "We have advised our members not to co-operate," he said."As far as we are concerned it is an inappropriate request."The Government has denied intentions to privatise the distribution network.A spokeswoman for Treasurer Michael Costa said yesterday that Eraring Energy workers would not be asked to do inappropriate tasks."The Premier stated to Unions NSW in December 2007 that steps to progress the Government's energy announcement had commenced," she said."This includes obtaining detailed advice from advisers around a range of complex issues."The Government has consulted with unions and continues to consult with unions about the announced changes."Industrial Relations Commissioner John Stanton said last Friday he strongly recommended all bans and limitations be removed by the Eraring Energy workers.The Government did not indicate yesterday whether it would return to the commission to seek an order that would force the unions to co-operate.
© 2008 Newcastle Herald