SA Power Networks contacts workers urging them to be available for storm repair work

Power workers have been urged to respond to storm emergencies - but their union says the company is running a hard line against the employees.

Workers of the state’s electricity distributor, which is accused of trying to cut wages, allegedly ignored emergency requests to help restore power to thousands of storm-affected properties.

But the union representing powerline workers said employees were becoming fed up with the SA Power Networks’ approach to wage negotiations.

More than 50,000 properties lost power during the wild weather that swept across SA on Friday and Saturday bringing torrential rain and gale- force winds that toppled trees and electricity poles.

SA Power Networks chief executive Robert Stobbe wrote to staff on Friday putting them on notice to respond to the storm emergency.

“I have been made aware that many field-based employees are not making themselves available for emergency response in the current storm. This is contrast to union assurances about emergency response,” a copy of the text message, obtained by The Advertiser, said.

“There are numerous wires down and life-support customers without power, and more generally, the large number of our customers currently without power are expecting we will work to restore the supply promptly.

“Please ensure you accept calls and make yourself available when requested by operational leaders to ensure the safety of our customers and your colleagues …”

Wet weather in the Adelaide Hills. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

A SAPN spokesman confirmed the text message. “We had a slow initial response to pre-event requests for people to make themselves available for emergency response over the weekend,” he said.

SAPN and the CEPU SA have been locked in protracted wage negotiations since early 2020. The SAPN spokesman said employees had rejected a pay offer of 3 per cent, 2.75 per cent and 2.5 per cent over three years and were seeking pay and conditions changes that amount to 4.75 per annum.

“We think that is out of step with community expectations,” the spokesman said.

The CEPU said workers wanted an annual wage increase of 3.5 per cent. The union said SAPN also wanted to pay new employees 20 per cent less than current workers and allow labour hire.

On June 8, the union put in place an indefinite overtime ban but that did not extend to emergency response work. Unions secretary John Adley said SAPN was running a “really hard line” against workers.

He said the union had not directed any members to not respond to the emergency.

“People are rostered to do on-call but in addition (other) staff take phones home,” he said. “If the company is saying we want to cut your wages and PS, can you come in when you are at home with the family, people are going to take a pretty dim view of that.”