The members of the CFMEU’s Mining and Energy Division have been without income since June 21 when Energy Australia stood them down for refusing to accept a new EBA that would give them no say in shift rostering or dispute resolution.
The operators, family and friends and members of the CFMEU’s Construction Division and other unions marched from City Square to the company’s offices.
Outside 385 Bourke St speakers, including ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver, CFMEU National Secretary Michael O’Connor and Fr Bob Maguire, condemned Energy Australia’s refusal to negotiate.
CFMEU Construction Secretary John Setka declared that “this company needs to realise that they are not taking on 75 workers but 110,000 CFMEU members.”
“This China Light and Power Company (Energy Australia’s owners) might think they can come down here and treat workers like this but we’re not gonna cop it.”
Energy Australia’s militant approach and callous disregard for the workforce have ensured this dispute has taken on a broader significance. We cannot allow workers who are only asking for some basic consultation over their working conditions to be hung out to dry and starved back to work.
You can help by sharing links about this issue with your networks and switching electricity provider if you are with Energy Australia (make sure you let them know the reason).
Earlier the CFMEU members were the subject of a disgraceful allegation that they had something to do with a fire in a circuit breaker just after the lock out began. This smear was allowed to circulate by Energy Australia management and splashed across the front page of the Herald-Sun.
The fire was an accident, propbably caused by poor maintenance, but the workers have never received an apology.
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