CEPU forced to cease industrial action with TasNetworks after Fair Work intervention

A Tasmanian union has been forced to hit pause its industrial action, after an intervention from the Fair Work Commission. Here’s why.

Image: TasNetworks

A Tasmanian union seeking a better pay deal for Tasmanian electrical workers will cease industrial action for a month, after an order from the Fair Work Commission was issued on Tuesday.

TasNetworks CEO Sean Mc Golderick said workers had been busily restoring storm affected infrastructure to homes, which had not been affected by the industrial action.

But he said other infrastructure was affected.

“CEPU (Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union) leadership was interfering with the transmission system,” he said.

“Some of our large employers and major customers were being deliberately left off for extended periods of time.

“There were customers affected in terms of mines, there were customers affected in terms of saw mills ... these are major loads.”

“The transmission network is the hold voltage network that keeps everyone connected, imports and and exports from the island and serves the major industrial customers.”

NEWS: Severe weather press - Dr. Sean McGoldrick CEO TasNetworks. Picture: Caroline Tan

Mr Mc Golderick said it presented a safety risk.

“After we spent days negotiating with the union we went to Fair Work,” he said.

“We asked for an emergency hearing, after five hours of a hearing they ruled the CEPU must stop suspend industrial action for a month.”

He did not specify exactly how safety would have been compromised.

“Everybody’s been put at risk, because the power system serves all of the major loads,” he said.

“If the transmission network does not work the power does not get to homes and cities.”

CEPU organiser Chris Clark said it was only a handful of large industrial businesses, including timber mill, Timberlink, the Musselroe Wind Farm and the Woolnorth wind farm.

He said the union’s actions were not in breach of its agreement to suspend industrial action during an emergency.

“We also had bans in place where if major industrials went off we would leave them off.

“We wouldn’t be restoring power to those sites unless there was a risk to safety.”

Chris Clark state organiser CEPU concerned about the safety of a recent work site in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Clark rejected suggestion the action presented a safety risk.

“That’s not a safety risk it means production had stopped,” Mr Clark said.

“Only those mines and wind farms were affected by that ban.”

Mr Clark said the dedication of workers during recent days of wild weather showed they were deserving of a new pay deal, comparable to that of mainland workers.

He said electrical workers in Tasmania were the lowest paid in the country.

“Our members have been working tirelessly 24/7 around the clock,” he said.

“I hope every Tasmanian supports their same job same, pay campaign.

“This isn’t just for TasNetworks, TasNetworks is just the first large work group to stand up this campaign. There’ll be many more to come.”

Last week the union rejected TasNetworks’ offer of a 14 per cent increase over three years, and an additional one off $6000 payment.