Keep Your Cash

Newcastle Herald

Thursday January 17, 2008

By DAMON CRONSHAW

LAKE Macquarie power station workers went on strike yesterday and rejected Premier Morris Iemma's offer of up to $40,000 each to accept the NSW Government's planned power sell-off.

About 200 workers from Delta Electricity's Vales Point and Munmorah plants walked off the job for two hours to protest against privatisation, which could affect 1500 Hunter jobs.

They accused the Premier and Treasurer Michael Costa of "deceiving and selling out" power industry workers and the public.

Delta's combined union co-ordinator, Les McAllister, said about

Continued Page 4

Power workers dash hopes for cash deal

From Page 1

200 workers walked off the job from about 1.15pm to 3.15pm yesterday.

Mr McAllister said electricity supply was not affected because some operators remained on the job and the workers wanted to "keep the public onside".

Further industrial action, which would affect supply, was not likely until the workers gained "the support of the community".

The public should be aware that electricity prices would rise under privatisation, Mr McAllister said.

He said the Premier's offer of incentive payments of $37,000 to $40,000 for workers to move into the private sector was "pennies to sell your soul".

"It's a cheapskate way out," Mr McAllister said.

Workers were concerned about job and superannuation security.

Some workers have criticised the unions for being slow to react to the planned sell-off.

However, Newcastle Trades Hall secretary Gary Kennedy rejected the criticism, telling workers at a meeting yesterday that unions opposed the sell-off and would fight to stop it.

Mr Kennedy threatened significant industrial action and said a "massive protest" was planned in February to coincide with State Parliament's return.

He said the Government assured unions before the state election last March that the industry would not be privatised.

"They didn't even have the guts to put this plan before us at the last election," he said.

Swansea MP Robert Coombs told workers that any perception of unanimous support in the Labor Party for the sell-off was false.

"The Labor Party is split on the issue," Mr Coombs, who opposes the sell-off, said. "The way this issue was dealt with was appalling."

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home