Evoenergy is asking employees to accept a substandard EBA. Here are 7 reasons you should vote NO:

1. Insulting 2% pay offer
Evoenergy is using the pandemic as cover to insult workers with the worst pay offer put to a vote in more than 30 years

2. Every substantial worker claim rejected
Management refused to listen or negotiate, rejecting every substantial 
employee claim

3. Call-out payments slashed
Management wants to dump the longstanding agreement on the standalone provision for call-outs. This would cut pay and disadvantage workers

4. Income Protection rights slashed
Evoenergy will force you to take 20 days sick leave before accessing Income Protection – this is double what it is now

5. All allowances frozen for 3 years
The real value of all your Allowances will decline: ELA, On-Call, Meal & more

6. Removal of the Attraction & Retention Allowance for new employees
This would make new workers second-class and sow division in the future

7. We deserve & can achieve better!
You deserve much better than this insulting offer. Vote NO to send management back to the bargaining table

Send a strong message to Evoenergy: Vote NO to defend our hard-won conditions, now and for the future. Let’s stick together for the better outcome you deserve.

More information: contact your ETU delegate or ETU organiser Matt McCann matt.mccann@etunsw.com.au 0416 236 646

12 . Can Ausgrid provide current those figures? 

15 . What has been the yearly cost for each of the Existing Outsourced Overhead Services - 

20. Does Ausgrid have current analysis on costings and efficiencies comparisons between Ausgrid and contractors? Please provide. 

21. Skills shortage tasks (tower refurbishment) has the ability to be brought back in house through training, how is this not a more practical approach to an evident problem?

22. Ausgrid has proposed to include running of new aerial conductors by contractors, given that there have been numerous occasions where contractors have ignored cable indications (ABC) and only checked phasing rather than correct identification as well as phasing could create significant problems particularly during storm events. How would Ausgrid ensure excellence in delivery from contractors? 

23. How would the outsourcing of defect rectification works apply when most defects requiring rectification come from contract delivered works (excluding the aged/weathered assets)? 

30. Will Ausgrid remain the PCBU as you will be engaging the contractor and have responsibilities under the WHS ACT 2017? 
33. How can Ausgrid justify asking staff to take extra leave etc then increase the scope and number of tasks performed by contractors? 

34. We find it quite ironic that Ausgrid have outsourced (Pegasus) the policing and verification of competency of contractors, more money wasted.

35. Ausgrid could save millions of dollars by doing away with contracting altogether and moving staff from contract works to design and engineering arms of the business to increase work output to be delivered to the field services arm. 

36. In the first consultation (Dial In) it was stated that that this consultation is independent of any other transformation programs, we argue that it is directly bound to the assurances given at the restructuring committee that contracting out was not an avenue Ausgrid would pursue after current contracts ran out. Ausgrid argued and distributed material that Ausgrid as a network business would "simply perform less work" requiring a smaller workforce. To say we are now too far behind to complete works ourselves indicates Ausgrid is either lying/hiding figures or there is pressure from external parties to renew contracts. 

37. What services suit external companies? If there is a need for a certain service, then training should be the first priority to deliver these services. 

38. Why would Ausgrid want to waste money/potentially waste money on a theory that end to end delivery by external contractors could deliver positive project outcomes when we have proven positive outcomes internally? 

39. We are very concerned that "testing market capabilities " is very important to Ausgrid, this appears to be a business that wants to win the Tour de France without pedalling a bike (reap benefits of owning a distribution network without the outlays of staffing overheads to maintain it).

40. The contracts for tower refurbishment were put in place in 2016, between then and now there has been plenty of time to train under-utilised staff in performing this task (knowing these contracts would eventually expire). Why has training not been given any thought or priority given considering the amount of time Ausgrid has had to develop its business to maximise efficiency unless its goal is purely to outsource.

 

We’ll get back to you with more about our Combined Power Industry EBA campaign – and what it means for you and your workmates.
  
For more information, contact your ETU organiser.

ETU OFFICES OPEN: WE’RE COVID SAFE

ETU offices in Sydney, Canberra and Newcastle are open and operating safely under strict COVID-19 guidelines.

Members can visit the union’s offices but are encouraged to contact the ETU by phone or email wherever possible: (02) 9267 4844 etunsw@etunsw.com.au

Dear Member

 

The ETU is working closely with major electricity and transport employers to ensure worker safety is paramount during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

As essential services, Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy, Essential Energy, Transgrid and Sydney Trains must keep operating. However the companies must re-assess all working procedures to protect employees, particularly through social distancing and the supply and use of appropriate PPE.

 

The ETU supports upgraded health and safety measures initiated by companies. The union has raised a list of additional controls members should use in their risk assessments.

 

Vehicles

 

A maximum of two people per vehicle where social distancing (1.5m) can be achieved, ie one driving, one in the back. Open the windows or select external air on the air conditioner – don't select 'recycle'.

 

Sufficient supplies of wipes and detergent must be provided so workers can wipe down all vehicle surfaces, at a minimum, at the beginning and end of each shift.

 

The union calls on companies to reform vehicle policies to facilitate social distancing. This should include:

 

EWPs

 

Only one person in the bucket. Where manual handling requires a second person, employees must wear coveralls and P2 masks as a minimum requirement.

 

Face-to-face meetings

 

Depot and other meetings should be held using available technology to avoid unnecessary physical interaction. Wherever people are required to meet, strict social distancing must apply.

 

Contact with the public

 

Members should apply social distancing in all interactions, including with customers and the public.

 

Where emergency responders are required to attend a dwelling, the company should contact residents in advance to confirm whether any person is sick, displaying any symptomsof the virus or in quarantine. 

 

With more people at home, ETU members have reported incidents of abuse from members of the public during power outages. If you are threatened or abused, report the incident and remove yourself from the location.

 

Risk assessment

 

Prior to the commencement of work, ensure that your work group has a pre-start job discussion, identifies any site-specific hazards or risks and implements the appropriate controls to mitigate the hazard or risk. If sufficient controls cannot be implemented , STOP work immediately and  PAUSE for safety. Notify your supervisor/manager If the work cannot be done safely.

 

Consultation

 

Employers have a duty to consult with their employees, or their representatives, on health and safety matters before they are implemented.

 

ETU supporting members

 

The union continues to provide the full range of members services during the pandemic. Call your organiser for support and advice on any workplace matter, contacts here: http://etunsw.asn.au/corona-virus/full-contact-details-for-etu-nsw-act-organiser-phone-numbers

 

For other inquiries, please contact the union by email for response and referral etunsw@etunsw.com.au

 

In unity

 

Justin Page

Secretary, ETU NSW & ACT

 

ETU Secretary Justin Page and organiser Lawrie Duff are on the road visiting Essential Energy members in north-western NSW – including Quirindi, Coonabarabran, Gunnedah, Manilla and Barbara.

Seven ETU organisers are driving to all corners to meet with Essential members over the company’s plan to axe 682 jobs.

‘Members are fuming at the incompetent and uncaring approach taken by management. The company has failed to communicate and failed to treat workers as human beings.

‘Essential Energy has also failed to consult as required under our EBA. CEO Cleland provided an inadequate response to just one of four letters from the ETU,’ said Justin.

‘We are developing genuine cost-saving alternatives to job cuts. We are building support for political action to save these regional jobs. We are providing ongoing support and information to workers,’ said Justin.