Qld: Mismanagement of power industry - safety risk for workers

Workers at Queensland’s power stations are reporting concerns for workplace safety as the industry is forced to tighten its belt after years of mismanagement, the CFMEU says.

Employees at a number of regional power generation operations have reported concerns for infrastructure maintenance and repairs as workers and customers wear the cost of mismanagement of the state’s electricity industry.

This follows the decision by Stanwell Corporation and CS Energy to cut jobs from power stations at Tarong, SwanBank and Callide and from corporate offices. The cuts were sheeted home to “unsustainable losses” by the Government-owned electricity generators from its failure to deal with demand.

CFMEU District Vice President Shane Brunker said employees and operations on the ground were copping the brunt of mismanagement at Government and corporate level.

“After years of mismanaging delivery and supply of the state’s power needs management are stating generators and equipment will be exposed to more “business risk”, Mr Brunker said. “We are aware management will be extending maintenance and schedules, including that of major rebuilds and routine repairs, further towards the limits of equipment failure.

Mr Brunker power generator mismanagement was evident in the way employees were notified that they were out of a job, including no consultation, no prior notice and no opportunity to seek support during the process.

“Losing your job is an incredibly stressful occurrence for workers but recent job cuts were made much worse for individuals by the blatant disregard management showed during the process. If you sack an office worker improperly there’s an outcry but sack a blue collar worker on the spot and no-one bats an eyelid.”

The CFMEU is calling on Premier Newman to take action on regional jobs in the industry. This would include an industry summit of all station stakeholders convened to mitigate job losses in the state.

“These debacles for Queensland’s provision of power are continually happening on Campbell Newman’s watch but it seems he’s too busy giving himself pay rises,” Mr Brunker said.