|
|
MELBOURNE: After sixteen weeks 'on the grass', 140 locked-out power workers have scored a resounding victory against a grasping employer. The workers, who are employed by the privatised distribution company Citipower and are members of the Electrical Trades Union (ETU), returned to work with union banners flying and their heads high. Other employers in the industry will also have been 'warned off' as a result of the outcome. Citipower is the ugly face of Kennett's privatisation. Their parent company, the US-based Entergy runs a non-union show in Louisiana and is used to getting their way, but they have been taught a sharp lesson in industrial relations 'down-under'.
The Citipower workers were locked out when they refused to accept a raft of demands that would have significantly undermined working conditions and paved the way for the death of unionism in the industry. Citipower had demanded the abolition of penalty rates for weekend work and other overtime. Non-union contractors were also to be brought in in a clear move towards union busting. Another demand was for reductions in long service leave entitlements and rostered days off. The company even wanted workers who were 'rained off' by inclement weather to owe them the time!
In return for all of this, the company had offered a piddling 6% wage increase over two years. The ETU members only went back after they had more than doubled the pay increase to 13% and had broken the back of the demands for worsened conditions.
A feature of the long struggle was the support from other workers and the community. The end of the dispute was marked by a fundraiser that turned into a victory celebration at the Lord Newry Hotel. Over $1300 was raised on the night.
The success of the Citipower struggle will give fresh hope to all workers who are battling increasingly arrogant employers and governments.
From all of us in Militant, congratulations comrades on a victory well-deserved.