Monday, March 19, 2012

UnionsNSW: Electricity merger to cut regional jobs

The State Government's plan to merge Endeavour Energy, Ausgrid, and Essential Energy could strip thousands of jobs from critical regions such as Western Sydney and Port Macquarie, Unions NSW warned today.

The Government has made the announcement without consulting staff through a briefing to the media.
Unions NSW Secretary, Mark Lennon, said the affected regions could ill afford further cut backs.

"This merger will remove a breadwinner for thousands of families in Western Sydney and Port Macquarie," Mr Lennon said.

"At a time when the State's private sector is shedding jobs it's utterly perverse for the Government to cut jobs in critical regions.
"This State Government appears to have abandoned its aim of promoting jobs and is proceeding with a slash and burn approach at a time when the State economy is already vulnerable."

"Adding insult to injury, there has been no consultation with the workforce and no attempt to explain the plans.
"This State Government needs to think beyond crude accounting measures and consider the human impact of these cut backs.

"Families and communities will suffer. NSW deserves better."

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