USU Members across NSW take action and stand strong as Government unveils "Plan B".
By Natalie Falvey
USU Organiser
Sep 1, 2008
USU members around the state took action and withdrew their labor on Friday afternoon in response to the NSW Government's "plan b". The NSW Government have indicated that despite not getting the support within their own party and not receiving support from the NSW Opposition they intend to press ahead with the sale of the retail arms of the NSW distribution companies.
In doing this, the NSW Government will bypass Parliament in a disgraceful display of disrespectful arrogance toward the Parliament, their own party and in the process ignore the will of the people of NSW who have overwhelmingly pressed that they wish to keep the utilities in public ownership.
The NSW Government has attempted to isolate what is perceived to be the weaker area of the Industry which hosts a mostly female dominated workforce.
On Friday August 29, 1500 USU members across NSW highlighted this to be a gross underestimation.
Congratulations to all of the USU members who took action on Friday. It sent a message to the NSW Government that you are serious about protecting your jobs and protecting your conditions.
A special mention must be given to all of those employees who were rostered to work over the weekend. The USU did ensure that skeleton staff were available across the state to handle emergencies.
This morning the USU was called before the NSW Industrial Relations Commission as a result of the action taken by our members on Friday afternoon, however all members have now returned to work. The results of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission will be forwarded to you later today.
A meeting of the Secretaries of all Energy Unions has been arranged for tomorrow, September 2, at Unions NSW along with a meeting of Industry wide Energy Delegates which has also been organized at Unions NSW for Friday, September 5 to discuss the way forward with the campaign. The USU asks members of all Unions to now support the Retail arm of the Energy Industry which the NSW Government are hoping to splinter off for sale.
At the weekend the NSW Treasurer expressed his intention for further privatization in areas of the NSW public service though job cuts to Sydney Ferries and Rail maintenance. The USU will be speaking with the relevant Unions to encourage, in addition to the combined energy unions, a multi sector Union approach to the campaign moving forward.
