Safety concerns prompt application to end protected industrial action

Endeavour Energy has applied to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to end protected industrial action at Endeavour Energy on the basis that it is threatening energy security to thousands of customers and risking the health, safety and welfare of customers on a daily basis.

The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has taken protected industrial action every day since 1 February, aside for a few days when the action was not correctly notified, and this has created an unacceptable risk to the stability and safety of the network for 1.2 million electricity customers.

As an essential service, our first priority is to the safety of the people who depend on us 365 days a year to power their homes and communities.

Protected industrial action means we are unable to repair critical sections of the network, creating an imminent risk of supply to thousands of customers including hundreds who depend on power for life support equipment. Four high voltage feeder cables that service major substations have been out of service for months due to protected industrial action, with customers forced to rely on temporary fixes by diesel generators.

Customers are also having to rely on generators when other faults cannot be repaired. Under usual circumstances, generators are used for up to 48 hours and only in exceptional circumstances, for up to a week. We have been forced to supply schools, nursing homes and homes by diesel generators, with one street powered for more than five months by a generator.

The constant noise and polluting fumes are causing significant distress and impacting the health and welfare of children, elderly residents and people with underlying chronic health conditions.

Tens of thousands of planned outages, cancelled at short notice due to protected industrial action, are significantly impacting the health and well being of life support customers, who rely on reliable power for life sustaining medical equipment.

In June, 72% of planned outages across Endeavour Energy’s network were cancelled which meant three out of four customers notified of planned outages needed to make alternative arrangements including child care, food and water preparation and in the very worst cases, needing support from family to relocate to hospitals. Customers are reporting negative health impacts and increasing distress on a daily basis along with disruptions to family and work routines.

Protected industrial action has also created long delays in planned maintenance work, increasing the risk of faults and emergencies as  inbuilt network protections to reliability are eroded.

Endeavour Energy estimates this will backlog will take at least 12 months to clear if protected industrial action was to end from next week.

Protected industrial action also continues to impact State Significant projects including a complex road upgrade for the M7 and M12 that connects to the new Western Sydney Airport, and key buildings in the Aerotropolis including the Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility (AMRF).

We are meeting with Transport for NSW and the developer of the AMRF to plan how we can finalise necessary works to these sites.

We are concerned that Air Services operations are affected by the delays to the works at the M7 and M12.

While we deeply value our workforce and respect the rights of our unions to be heard, we believe protected industrial action has created a mounting and unacceptable risk to innocent parties.

We are seeking the FWC’s assistance to break the impasse after months negotiations on a wages dispute have been exhausted.

Unfortunately, ETU has refused to reconsider its original claim of 24% wage increases over three years and has refused to participate in in the FWC’s processes to resolve bargaining disputes.

We urge the ETU to consider the possible consequences of their actions on customers and reach a fair and sustainable wages outcome.

Endeavour Energy’s application under section 424 of the Fair Work Act has been listed for 1pm on Monday in the Fair Work Commission – 80 William Street, Sydney.

Deputy President Slevin will hear the matter and must make a decision before midnight on Monday or make an order suspending industrial action.