Hundreds of electrical workers vital for the completion of essential renewable energy and power transmission projects will participate in major industrial action as Transgrid refuses to move on wages.
On Friday, about 400 Electrical Trades Union members will strike for 24-hours, with dozens set to rally loudly outside of Transgrid’s Eastern Creek depot in western Sydney.
The stoppage will push out Transgrid’s maintenance backlog and disrupt operations, including for the multi-billion dollar Project EnergyConnect.
Who: ETU members and NSW/ACT Secretary Allen Hicks rally at Transgrid depot
When: 1000 - 1200, Friday 12 April
Where: 200 Old Wallgrove Rd, Eastern Creek NSW 2766.
ETU NSW and ACT Secretary Allen Hicks: “Transgrid is pig-headed when it comes to paying hard-working electrical workers a wage that they deserve and that keeps pace with the high cost of living.
“Our electrical workers are invaluable - they often work nights and weekends away from their families to get the community’s power back on quickly, and they are the key to unlocking billions of dollars worth of renewable energy generation.
“Yet in the midst of a national energy transition and skills shortage, Transgrid’s stubborn refusal to lift wages threatens to further gut the essential workforce, and undermine the transition to net zero.
“Transgrid has the funds but doesn’t have the will to pay electrical workers what they are worth. Transgrid is happy to commit billions of dollars into network upgrades while offering the very workers upgrading the system a pay cut in real terms.
“Electrical workers deserve better pay and conditions – Australia can’t afford to lose these important workers because Transgrid isn’t paying them properly. Transgrid can immediately improve the lives of workers, and provide certainty to the communities they serve by accepting the ETU’s reasonable new offer.”
The ETU will ensure that industrial action will not endanger the general public or workers. Resources will be available to respond to life-threatening emergencies.
Background:
- Bargaining has been ongoing since October 2023.
- This will be the fourth 24-hour strike on the issue this year.
- ETU members were originally seeking a pay rise of 8% per year over three years in their new agreement.
- But in early April, the ETU compromised with a new offer of 6.5% each year for three years plus 0.5% superannuation increase in years two and three.
- Transgrid has rejected the offer. It proposes 5% in year one, and 4% in the following two years, plus a 0.5% increase to super in years two and three.
Media contact: Sofie Wainwright 0403 920 301
