Power Privatisation: Stop the Sell-off Campaign

Executive, 25 February 2008

Report adopted.

The campaign against the State Government's proposal to privatise the power industry has gained momentum over the past few weeks. Combined delegates' meetings held in Sydney resolved to direct members across the entire industry to stop work on Tuesday 26 February and to participate in the community rally against the sell-off which has been organised for 11:00 am in front of Parliament House on what is the first parliamentary sitting day of the year.

Mass meetings have been held at all sites over the last 2-3 weeks to keep members updated on the campaign and to maximise their participation on the 26th. Because the campaign strategy has been to encourage community support, the unions have agreed to maintain skeleton staffing at all locations to ensure no disruption to supply.

Operators in Macquarie Generation, Delta Electricity and Eraring Energy, who are considered to be essential to the operations, have agreed to donate money to pay for buses to bring those members who are losing pay to the rally.

Buses have now been organised to attend the rally from Bathurst, Lithgow, Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Central Coast, Newcastle, Cessnock, Singleton and Maitland for members in the Generation sector. It is understood that similar arrangements have been made to transport members from country locations in the Distribution sector.

Community Activities

In addition to the industrial campaign referred to above, there has been significant community related activities over the past month.

A major forum was arranged by the Newcastle Trades Hall Council at which a standing room only audience resolved to become involved in the campaign. This meeting of over 700 members of the local community represented diverse groups opposing the sell-off, including retired unionists, pensioner groups, local church leaders as well as a large cohort from within the industry.

There has also been an enormous amount of letterboxing and street stall petitioning conducted in conjunction with various groups established during the YR@Work campaign particularly at major shopping centres on weekends. This work is being carried out primarily by power industry workers, and demonstrates their commitment to the campaign.