Government throws away job guarantees for Sydney electricity workers
By Ben Kruse
USU General Secretary
Oct 7, 2009
Up to 2,000 jobs in the
Sydney CBD and Western Sydney are at risk under the NSW Government's latest
plan to privatise the State's electricity sector.
EnergyAustralia in the CBD
employs around 1500 workers and in Huntingwood, around 400 workers are employed
in Integral Energy’s retail hub. Both retailers are up for sale under the State
Government’s privatisation plan for electricity.
United Services Union (USU)
Energy Organiser Natalie Falvey today said the State Government had backed away
from its commitment to guarantee the jobs of electricity sector workers.
“Premier Nathan Rees and Joe
Tripodi are not only selling off the family silverware, they are selling out
electricity workers in regional NSW.
“Last year the Premier
produced the ‘Rees Plan for Electricity Reform,’ which included an employment
guarantee for electricity sector workers.
“That promise has now been
thrown out the window.
“Joe Tripodi’s new plan will
leave around 14,000 electricity workers across the state in limbo, not knowing
if they will have jobs in the future.
“Electricity workers demand
the Government sticks to its promise and gives a rock-solid guarantee that
workers’ jobs will be protected in the sale of electricity assets.”
Ms Falvey said mass meetings
were being held around the state to warn members that there were no job
guarantees and to continue to fight the sell off.
“New South Wales cannot
afford to lose these jobs, and it’s time the government gave workers across the
state some assurances that they will not lose out under any new plan.”
