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Ausgrid consultation dispute

Ausgrid Consultation Dispute – Nov 2020 (PDF version)

As you will be aware, the combined unions have commenced consultation on Ausgrid’s proposed restructure of its workforce, which includes a staggering 230 employees Ausgrid is proposing to terminate from the organisation in early 2021.

In the past week-and-a-half Ausgrid management has attempted to effectively sidestep its obligation to engage in meaningful consultation with the combined unions when it sent out DAILY meeting requests to all unions representatives for a whole week.

The combined unions oppose this monopolisation of our time; it strikes at the heart of what it means to consult. Employees and their representatives need sufficient time to absorb, reflect on and consider information the business provides on organisational changes to enable us to canvass the views of the membership and respond to management properly.

Ausgrid’s recent move denies this categorically.

The unions have initiated a dispute on the consultation process for the proposed restructure.

Reasons include:

• The timeline for consultation has not been agreed to. Further, the combined unions have made submissions in all meetings conducted to date relating to the monopolisation of our time
• Plus ES employees have been excluded from the process
• Vacant roles being removed from structures do not count towards the headcount reduction, contrary to the restructure undertaken last year
• The unions feel Ausgrid hasn’t supplied all relevant information to all impacted employees as they are required to do.

A dispute meeting will be held between the parties next week. We will keep members informed.

Not a member of the CPSU?

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www.cpsunsw.org.au/join

Contact the CPSU NSW

Matthew Drake-Brockman Industrial Officer

CPSU NSW workplace delegate

Leanne Smith