Jim McIlroy, Brisbane
The pay rises of up to 27% over three years recently announced for the Queensland power industry were "some late justice" for the sacking of 700 electricity workers in 1985, according to Bernie Neville. Neville was a leading union activist in the massive, but ultimately unsuccessful, fight against the sackings, known as the SEQEB dispute, which rocked the state 20 years ago this month.
Under the agreement, negotiated by the Electrical Trades Union with the new power industry state corporations, Energex and Ergon Energy, about 2200 power workers will receive a minimum 4.5% annual increase in base pay rates. Field crews and line workers responsible for maintaining the electricity distribution network will receive a further $3.05 an hour allowance.
ETU state secretary Dick Williams supported the agreement, saying on February 1 that market forces had dictated appropriate entitlements and that Energex and Ergon needed to retain trained staff. The new agreement follows more than 12 months of turmoil in the Queensland power industry, involving widespread blackouts and management upheavals.
Neville, who is now a member of the Socialist Alliance, told Green Left Weekly on February 5 that he was "pleased the power workers have won good pay rises. Hopefully, the ETU will again be in the vanguard of the union movement in winning gains for all workers.
"The irony is that the current power boards are in a mess today largely because of the SEQEB dispute. The state power industry lost all its skilled workers, and 'hived off' its apprentices at the time.
"It is good that there will be 300 new apprentices hired. But who's going to teach these new workers on-the-job skills? The trained staff are no longer there."
The major pay rises for energy workers may set a benchmark for other upcoming negotiations. Queensland Council of Unions general secretary Grace Grace said on February 2 that other public sector unions may seek similar pay rises.
From Green Left Weekly, February 9, 2005.
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