Strikes could hit grid operator
THOUSANDS of workers at
NSW’s largest electricity distributor, Ausgrid, have voted to take part in work stoppages, bans and other industrial action, possibly from next month, unless an agreement covering wage increases and career progression opportunities can be reached. Ausgrid employees have not received a pay rise since 2014 and the Electrical Trades Union says almost 2000 jobs have been slashed during the same period, increasing workloads. ETU organiser Mark Buttigieg said: “Ausgrid executives awarded themselves pay increases averaging 5.3 per cent a year (since 2014), while they also enjoyed average bonuses of more than $50,000 each in 2014, 2015 and 2016.” Workers are seeking a “modest” pay rise of 3 per cent a year.