Etu Members Build House for Sophie
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LO182_ETUNews0208_v5 16/4/08 1:06 PM Page 1 The Journal of the Electrical Trades Union of Australia, NSW Branch AUTUMN 2008 Stop the sell off he ETU is spear- heading the battle against electricity T privatisation on behalf of families, and businesses, across New South Wales – just as it did in 1997. NSW state secretary, Bernie Riordan, says jobs and membership dues are a side issue in a debate that goes to the core of how a Labor Government should deliver for its constituency. Riordan estimates the Morris Iemma-Michael Costa plot to flog off electricity generators and retailers would, at most, affect the jobs of 300 ETU members. ‘I have never heard of a pri- workers any more than five ‘It is fair to say the for any government. It is espe- vatisation or a long-term lease, years of price regulation will Government has come up with cially bad policy for a Labor anywhere in the world, which protect the consumers of 2014. some innovative and crafty government because it hits the resulted in lower prices, better Privatisation has a track ways to buy silence on this living standards and security of service or more jobs,’ Riordan record of screwing consumers. issue but the majority of our the very people it was elected said. ‘And NSW is not about to In the US state of Virginia members will see these propos- to represent.’ break that trend. recently, a five-year electricity als for what they are – bribes,’ ‘When we beat this govern- price cap expired. The very Riordan said. Full report and more photos from the big ment’s 1997 privatisation plan next day, the private supplier ‘The bottom line is, electric- rally outside NSW Parliament – see page 3. we didn’t focus on employees – increased prices by a massive ity privatisation is bad policy job losses were simply going to 78%. be a by-product. We Just last month, in Victoria, campaigned around the long- consumers were slugged with a term effects the Carr/Egan 17% price hike. proposal would have on the The excuse of the privatised wider community. power companies? The ‘Iemma and Costa have dusted drought, of course, convenient- off a kite that wouldn’t fly 10 ly overlooking the fact that years ago. The detrimental Victorian baseload power effect on NSW families and con- comes from brown coal, a sumers will be exactly the same.’ process that only uses water as a The State Government has cooling agent. tried to sidetrack community Riordan says unions have a ETU MEMBERS BUILD HOUSE FOR SOPHIE concerns by offering a string of long and proud history of Two horrifying car accidents in 2003 and 2006 left little short-term sweeteners. fighting for the wider commu- Sophie Delezio with terrible injuries. With help from the Bonus payments and job nity and the battle against elec- ETU and the Heyday Group, Sophie’s family is set to move guarantees won’t extend to tricity privatisation is part of into a new, purpose-built house. future generations of electricity that tradition. Full story page 10 LO182_ETUNews0208_v5 16/4/08 1:06 PM Page 2 RIORDAN REPORT Active members win campaigns Bernie Riordan t the start of 2007, would never have to go through plant, property and equipment The Premier has no mandate the union had an a campaign like that again ... transfer under the lease. for this course of action having ambitious target of But like you, I must have Employees are not given an said the exact opposite during Atwo election been too busy campaigning in option under the plan – they the election campaign. The victories the – state 2007 – I missed the announce- must transfer. proposal is bad policy, poor election in March and then ment of the NSW ALP’s the federal election later in intention to embark on the year ... MISSION electricity privatisation. THE NSW PUBLIC HAS NEVER ACCOMPLISHED. Once again the NSW Go- Last year’s federal election vernment is seeking to privatise WANTED THIS INDUSTRY PRIVATISED, victory was the sweetest of the generation and retail sectors them all. For two and a half of the electricity industry. AND I BELIEVE THEY NEVER WILL. years ETU members have It’s hard to believe, but just been campaigning to rid 10 years after the economic The Government loses all economically and a disaster 2 Australia of Workchoices and rationalists had to retreat with control over the generator. It socially. We have an obligation we succeeded. their tails between their legs, no longer receives its profit or to future generations to oppose I wish to take this opportunity someone has let them back out has any say over its existing or this proposition. to congratulate and thank all of of their cages. future generating capacity. All On a sad note, I would like to you for the role you played in I had certainly hoped that our of the plant and equipment will advise you of the passing of the ETU’s Your Rights at campaigns in 1997 and 1999 be redundant and worthless by former ETU Secretary Harry Work campaign. would have killed off this the end of the lease. Pitt. Harry passed away on The Your Rights at Work lunacy – but obviously I was Privatisation does not work! 3 March 2008. In this edition campaign has prove to me a relying on politicians displaying Look at examples in the USA, we pay tribute to his life and number of things: a modicum of commonsense UK, NZ, South Australia and contribution to the ETU. 1.The ETU is lucky enough and rational thought. Victoria. The Premier must Harry had an impact on to have some of the most We may have to go through believe that NSW will not suffer everyone that he met, he just active union members in the entire debate again, but I the financial and social traumas had one of those personalities. the country am confident that the which have been experienced in The history books will show 2.Our members were the vindicated stance that we took these areas following deregu- that Harry set the ETU on a success factor of the campaign in 1997 will be repeated. lation and privatisation. course of financial security. We with ETU Members engaging The provision of electricity So where to from here? owe him a huge thank you for the wider community with a to consumers in NSW is an Unions NSW have organised a his lifelong contribution to message culminating in the essential service. The NSW community rally on Saturday the ETU. best grassroots campaign this public has never wanted this 3 May at 9.30am outside the We have lost one of country has ever seen. industry privatised, and I ALP State Conference, our greats. 3.If we stand unified and fight believe they never will. Darling Harbour Convention May he rest in peace. for what believe in – we stand The proposed 99-year lease Centre. I encourage all ETU unified in victory. of the generators is nothing members and their families to So here I was thinking we more than a privatisation. The attend this rally. Bernie Riordan Sydney Newcastle Wollongong Canberra Level 5, 26 Warabrook Level 2, 370 Pitt Street Boulevard, Warabrook, 63 Market Street 26-27 Darling St Sydney NSW 2000 NSW 2304 Wollongong NSW 2500 Mitchell ACT 2911 Tel: (02) 9267 4844 Tel: (02) 4968 2488 Tel: (02) 4229 8711 Tel: (02) 6163 6666 Fax: (02) 9267 4877 Fax: (02) 4968 3466 Fax: (02) 4228 5636 Fax:(02) 6163 6667 Production and Design Lodestar Communications – Ph (02) 9698 4511 ETU NSW AUTUMN 2008 LO182_ETUNews0208_v5 16/4/08 1:07 PM Page 3 STOP THE SELL-OFF 64% oppose privatisation as union rally surrounds parliament ETU MEMBERS SAY Bad for NSW ‘Tariffs will definitely be increased if the industry is sold. And the money won’t stay in NSW. It will go out of the state, most likely overseas to China or elsewhere.’ Mike Brien, Energy Australia, ETU Vice President Makes no sense ‘Why are they trying to sell the most profitable part of the industry? The private sector will want more profits so obviously it will cost more.’ Luke Gillett, Energy Australia, Wallsend ore than 10,000 people surrounded Power outages MNSW Parliament House on 26 February to ‘The network won’t be the same if they sell it. We 3 protest the planned sale of will get power outages such as we’ve seen in other the power industry. places where they’ve privatised the industry.’ The crowd sent a loud and clear message to politicians David Worell, Energy Australia, Newcastle arriving for the opening day of parliament. Unions NSW leader John Robertson told the rally that Jobs threatened the campaign against the sell ‘We live in a really small community and most of us off would continue unless the work on the power stations. Our jobs and our NSW Labor Government lis- livelihoods are threatened if this goes ahead.’ tened to the community. leaders to listen to the ‘Just this morning, the people,’ said John Robertson. Benita Ribaux, Integral Energy, Kandos Sydney Morning Herald pub- ‘Politicians should be under no lished a poll showing that 64% illusions. This is just the start.’ oppose the sale with only 25% The Unions NSW in favour,’ he said. leader said that unions had Won’t work The ETU contingent, learnt a lot in the three-year ‘Privatisation hasn’t worked with banking, airlines dressed in bright yellow t-shirts campaign to bring down the or anything else. It always hurts the workers and saying ‘Stop the Sell Off’, was Howard Government.