Tasmanian power workers take action

Duncan Meerding
July 12, 2008
Issue 
758

HOBART — On June 25, workers at Tasmania's electricity provider, Aurora, began industrial action to stop a performance-based pay system. The action was decided at a June 18 meeting of more than 300 delegates.

Kevin Harkins, secretary of the Tasmanian branch of the Electrical Trades Union, told Green Left Weekly that the performance-based pay structure "takes away an employees' right to bargain for their pay rise. It reduces the negotiations for wage outcomes to one of an individual negotiating with their direct manager — which is not much different to an AWA." The ETU is urging supporters to ring Aurora's call centre and write letters to local newspapers.

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