Electrical Trades Union state organiser Garry Rogers said the union wanted a $1.20 an hour increase to the attraction and retention allowance, which was introduced during the previous pay negotiation.
“As quickly as new workers are coming in the front door, others are leaving through the back,” Mr Rogers said.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said the government needed to balance a fair pay deal with their responsibility to taxpayers.
An increase above the offered 4.5 per cent would require additional funding, which could result in an increase to electricity bills, Ms Bligh said.
Similar rallies and marches were held in Maryborough, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Townsville and Cairns.
The ETU has vowed to continue rolling strikes until the dispute is resolved.
Hands up all those Queenslanders who remember the never-ending power strikes and blackouts during the Joh era?
At the time I was very much a lefty and I put up with the interference with life and saw it as being a way to show solidarity with the workers. These days I have a rather different view and I see the growing militancy of the power unions, as an indication that with the election of Brother Number One, largely as a result of the ACTU campaign against work choices, that for many in the union movement the time has come for them to call in the very large marker owed to them by the Labor party. I have no doubt that after the victory by the teachers union in Victoria that strikes and union campaigns for large wage increases will become de regiuer over the next little while.
As for the power situation here in Queensland. I have a very good stock of candles , a full gas bottle for my back up stove and batteries for the transistor radio, some how I think I am going to need them.
Cheers Comrades
Filed under: Blogging, Domestic life, Federal politics, Leftism, Queensland politics | Tagged: power strikes, Rampant unions
Iain, the pay rise for teachers in Victoria has only brought their pay in line with other states, it is not a ‘large wage increase’ by national standards at all.
I understand that the electricity is being privatised in QLD, something that happened in Victoria some time ago.
As I live in the bush as you do, I would be more concerned with the black-outs and lack of service that we have experienced since privatisation if I were you.
These days almost every time we get even a mild storm the power goes out. Last time it was for four days and the only info you can get is a recorded message. This wasn’t anywhere near as bad under the old SEC.
With the current inflation problem we are suffering due to the lack of attention paid by the previous government, being made worse by the stupid election promises’ of this government, is it not fair for worker to try and keep up???
I have not bought the notion that inflation is a creature of the previous government,It seems to me that It is much more a result of factors beyond the control of any government, like the sub prime crisis in the US , drought and the rise in energy costs.
The electricity distribution industry has been privatised for some time up here and while we do experience regular black outs, especially from damage to power lines caused by trees and high winds that is nothing like the power cuts that prompted Joh To act against The power unions. I suppose the point I am trying to make in this post is that under the previous Labor government and the last coalition government there was very strong efforts to keep a lid on Union demands for higher pay and under Brother Number One the situation is different because Brother Number One owes them big time. If their is a risk from inflation it must be in the sort of crazy wage campaigns like those I remember from the late seventies…
Oh and I totally agree that the recorded messages are disgusting and very annoying,Try using the language other than English option (if they have one) and then asking to speak to some one in English, It has worked for me in the past
Just on the recorded messages thing, I had a problem with my bigpond connection the other day and went through the usual tedious voice-activated steps for yonks before finally getting through to a “consultant”. But as I was using the fixed phone I couldn’t reach the computer so I had to call back with the cordless. As soon as the recorded message started up I said (loudly) “consultant”. The message stopped and as soon as it started up again I said “consultant”. It only took about 4 repeats to get put through to a “consultant”. I think that’s the way to beat the system, just interrupt the recording repeatedly until they put you through to a real live “consultant” (from India).
BTW, we’re privatised with the electricity here in country Vic and the service is shit.
The thing I hate about reporting faults is that I was trying to do it with the mobile and they want you to enter the number that is faulty , well my fingers are large and the key pad is small on the Nokia so It took forever, and when I got through the person on the other end had an Indian accent …
I know the Indian accent is a problem to some but I think the real problem is not where the helpless desk is but the total lack of training and any ability to help beyond reading a script that gives me the shits the most.
I would be happy with a call centre person from the moon if they could do something to fix your problem. Don’t bash the poor Indian workers to much!
Cheers guys.
BTW Iain, do you have any view on my question above; “With the current inflation problem we are suffering…. is it not fair for worker to try and keep up???”