January 20, 2016
Ergon electricians and linesmen based in Bundaberg walked off the job on Wednesday, claiming the company plans to axe frontline jobs in the Fraser Burnett region.
Electrical Trades Union organiser Dan Bessell said management’s actions were becoming increasingly dangerous with the company already cutting crucial maintenance programs due to existing frontline job vacancies.
“It’s getting dangerous. We’ve got power poles and cross arms rotting through and failing thanks to extended inspection cycles, as well as important network hardware failing right across the State,” he said.
“Instead of dealing with the problem through a well-planned maintenance program supported by adequate internal staffing, Ergon’s answer seems to be to slow the flow of work down even further and use that as justification to close out front line jobs.
“They are proposing to cut 13 field-based jobs in the Fraser Burnett region.
“These are frontline jobs that should be employed locally to ensure there is sufficient maintenance and local resources when we get hit with major storm events.”
Bundaberg Ergon workers have called on the State Government to intervene and ensure no further frontline jobs are cut.
“If this State Government is serious about its pre-election commitment to frontline jobs and rural Queensland then (Treasurer) Curtis Pitt or (Energy Minister) Mark Bailey should step in, see what’s happening up here and direct Ergon to maintain frontline staff and vital services,” he said.
“If management’s answer to a failing network is to do less maintenance and get rid of front line jobs, I think we have the wrong people in these positions.”
Mr Bessell said the Ergon staff, and the people of Queensland, deserved better.
“We are in the middle of storm season, Fraser Burnett residents remember all too well how valuable these workers were to their community following the devastating floods of 2011 and 2013, we can’t afford to allow these cuts to happen,” he said.
We are so grateful to these Ergon linesmen who go out in terrible weather to restore our power – they deserve the best. We sometimes observe power poles and cross arms ourselves which look like they are in poor condition.