Ongoing Dispute in Australia Between CEPU and Western Power

Tensions remain high between ICEM affiliate Communications, Electrical & Plumbing Union (CEPU) of Australia and Western Power. The issue of outside contractors is central to the dispute.

Western Power, citing potential blackouts, has petitioned the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to terminate the 600 line and maintenance workers’ right to strike.

CEPU has implemented industrial actions over the pay, overtime and contracting dispute, but on 31 October called off a possible action because the utility had conceded a matter over discipline—whether or not workers were entitled to union representation. Days earlier, a Western Power confidential letter leaked, detailing outsourcing plans including dividing an entire grid into zones and then allocating maintenance of those zones to contractors.

CEPU termed the strategy “privatisation by stealth.” CEPU Secretary Bill Game, quoted in a Perth newspaper, said, “Our guys are saying it’s clearly their core work that is being outsourced. Part of what we are trying to do is prepare the industry for young people coming in, so that they can have permanency and security and not having to run all over the place doing outsourcing work.”