February 14, 2014
The Electrical Trades Union has responded to criticism by KCCI president Rod Steele, describing it as an “ill-informed rant”.
On Thursday, Mr Steele warned that the ETU’s decision to take Stanwell to court over the restarting of two power generating units at Tarong would have flow-on effects for small businesses in the South Burnett.
Mr Steele said unions and the Labor Party were putting impediments in the way of business.
ETU State Organiser Jason Young said today Mr Steele was “clearly in the pocket of the LNP”, saying he was “trotting out tired old lies about the union movement and the ALP being responsible for everything from lack of rain to the economic downturn”.
“I can’t remember any outrage from Mr Steele when Stanwell, under instruction from the LNP Government, cut 130 jobs at Tarong back in 2012. I didn’t hear any outrage about the flow-on effects to small business then, I wonder why?” Mr Young said.
“As far as Mr Steele’s assertion that the unions and the ALP brought down SPC, Holden, Toyota, Ford and any other company that may have failed in the past, he is clearly not up with the news.
“Abbott lied about SPC Ardmona, according to the company and his own MP, and Hockey was found out telling porkies about Toyota.
“If I was a business member in the Kingaroy area I would be seriously considering my membership of the KCCI.”
Mr Young said recommissioning the two mothballed units at Tarong would not create one more full-time job.
“The decision by Stanwell to sack 130 workers in 2012 has had a devastating impact on the South Burnett, and the disputed decision to recommission the mothballed units at Tarong will do nothing to reverse that,” he said.
“In fact if it goes ahead as is, it will have a detrimental impact on the safety, workload and health of the workers who will be required to pick up the extra work with no extra staff.”
Mr Young said the ETU had a history of standing up against bad policy, no matter which party was in government.
“A prime example is our opposition to asset sales as evidenced by our massive campaign against the Bligh Government’s decision to sell assets after the 2009 election and the battle to save jobs and assets against the relentless and ruthless LNP now,” he said.
“I am happy to stand by the ETU achievements in raising awareness and fighting for towns like Nanango and Kingaroy, any day, against the KCCI LNP rhetoric.”
[Disclosure: southburnett.com.au is a member of the KCCI]
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