Electrical Trades Union (ETU) Ausgrid members across Sydney and parts of regional NSW will take strike action, outraged by the company's refusal to offer a wage rise that recognises the rise in the cost of living.
Up to two million Ausgrid customers could face inconveniences as part of the industrial action, which could kick off as soon as this week.
Around 1600 ETU members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a range of actions including work stoppages, overtime bans, switching bans and locking bans.
Households and businesses could experience maintenance delays and other inconveniences unless Ausgrid offers workers a serious pay rise that helps them keep up with the soaring cost of living.
Electrical contractors rely on switching to turn the power off to do major work and maintenance, or connect power to properties.
A whopping 93% of union members rejected Ausgrid's offer earlier in the month, paving the way for industrial action.
Any emergency work will not be affected by the action.
The poles and wires company services around two million customers, which equates to more than four million people, across most of Sydney's east, north and inner-city, as well as the Central Coast and Hunter Valley.
Ausgrid is the third major power company in NSW in a dispute about giving workers the pay and conditions they deserve, joining Transgrid and Endeavour Energy.
ETU NSW/ACT Secretary Allen Hicks said:
"The millions of Australians who rely on the east coast's largest electricity distributor should be alarmed to learn how Ausgrid is treating its staff, who keep their power running and their lights on day in and day out," he said.
"Ausgrid's insulting pay offer has left workers with no choice but to launch industrial action including work stoppages.
"Ausgrid could instantly prevent any maintenance delays or inconveniences to the community with a serious offer that helps workers keep up with the spiralling cost of living.
"Ausgrid workers' real wages have gone backwards with the cost-of-living crisis eroding the value of their last pay rise. Their experience is not recognised or rewarded, despite their critical role providing a safe and reliable electricity network for millions of NSW homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and infrastructure.
"ETU members haven't yet received an offer that will allow them to keep up with cost of living increases. They have no choice but to continue to exercise their legal right to withdraw their labour until they get an offer that doesn't send their wages backwards."
Background:
ETU members are seeking annual pay rises of 8% for the next three years, plus a 1% superannuation increase over two years in addition to the federal super guarantee of 0.5% increase in years one and two
Ausgrid offered a 7% pay increase in the first years, followed by 2.7% (or CPI if it is higher) in years two and three, and the federal super guarantee of 0.5% increase in years one and two
ETU members put a counteroffer of a one-year agreement of 8% with other allowances which was rejected by Ausgrid
Bargaining started in May
The NSW government owns 49.6% of Ausgrid with the rest in the hands of AustralianSuper (8.4%), IFM Investors (25.2%) and APG Asset Management Group (16.8%)
