It is predicted that the proposed energy sell-off will lead to the unemployment of thousands of energy workers, but Treasurer Andrew Constance promises that full-time employees will have job security. Steph Nash reporting.
In a leaked document, Sydney Observer can confirm that public electricity provider, Ausgrid, has been struggling with the threat of privatisation since 2013. The document contains details about the company’s Mix and Match program – a controlled redundancy scheme aimed to create job space for their new apprentices.
Ausgrid confirms that they currently do not have space to place their trained apprentices in full-time roles. The company did not take on any new apprentices in 2015, which the Electrical Trade Union (ETU) says was a first for the company since its founding in 1995.
The document reads: “We do not currently have sufficient trade positions available for our graduating apprentices. Therefore, Ausgrid is commencing a Mix and Match Program to find opportunities for our graduating apprentices”.
Ausgrid admits to a period of hard-times within the document, urging distressed employees to retain their composure and uphold safety standards whilst on the job-site.
“During times of change, it is important for all of us to maintain our focus while safely performing our duties in the workplace. Ausgrid encourages all employees to stay focussed and continue to maintain a safe working environment. Supervisors and team members should take particular care for their team’s wellbeing”.
Currently, trained apprentices receive a six-month contract agreeing to remunerate them whilst they seek employment within Ausgrid’s vast network. If they fail to find a position within that time, they become terminated.
Spokesman for the ETU, Adam Kerslake, says that the government’s privatisation intentions are not only risking the jobs of skilled workers, but also vastly limiting the opportunities for young people.
Ausgrid admits to opportunity shortages for trained apprentices.
“Every instance of electricity privatisation has led at some point to large scale forced redundancies that we’d expect that to happen in this case,” Kerslake says.
“When [electricity] was privatised in Victoria, the owners didn’t train a single apprentice in ten years. So we’re not just talking about job losses, we’re talking about opportunites lost for young people”.
With the threat of redundancy or termination emminent, Kerslake says that emotions are rife at Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy, Essential Energy and Transgrid.
“We have had reports of workers suffering severe depression as a result of the government’s planned privatisation with older workers being hit the hardest. Morale at these companies has hit an all-time low, where many workers have more than thirty years’ service,” he said.
“These workers have experienced significant change over many years, but the current round of attacks and the threat of privatisation has hit the workforce hard with some long term employees suffering mentally, resulting in some taking leave”.
Despite the union’s skepticism, the NSW Government has assured that state energy workers will be protected if their privatisation plans go ahead. State Treasurer Andrew Constance says that it will be all systems normal for full-time employees in the energy sector, reinforcing the catch cry that there will be no forced redundancies.
“The Baird Government has made clear that as part of the strict conditions on the lease, the jobs of permanent award employees will be protected and treated consistently with previous transactions,” Mr Constance said.
On the other hand, Labor Leader Luke Foley has in the past shown support of the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) proposal to cut 38 per cent cut of the sector’s operating expenditures, which infers unavoidable job losses. Mr Foley says that cheaper energy is the main priority, and that employment issues are the responsibility of the future business owners and unions.
“I support the AER draft determination because I support lower power prices for households and businesses across NSW,” Mr Foley said.
“I’ll leave negotitations regarding employment to the electricity businessses and the unions. The aim of the state’s energy policy has to be delivering affordable electricity to consumers”.
