Essential Energy jobs – disappointing response from Deputy Premier John Barilaro
The Electrical Trades Union is disappointed that Deputy Premier John Barilaro has announced today he has failed to make any headway in protecting regional jobs at Essential Energy.
The ETU expected firmer action on protecting the jobs of front-line workers across regional NSW.
The Nationals failing to enforce government policy and protect Essential Energy jobs will see the company continue with is devastating plan to slash one in five regional positions by 2024. The cuts will see an additional 500 workers lose their jobs on top of the 182 that Essential Energy last month announced would be cut from their workforce this year.
ETU Secretary Justin Page reminds National Party MPs that they have made many promises to save Essential Energy jobs, but once again are failing to live up to that commitment, providing empty rhetoric to these regional workers whose livelihoods are on the line.
“We expected the Nationals to be able to deliver on saving Essential Energy jobs. This lack of progress raises questions about the authority of the Nationals in this government,” Mr Page said.
“We welcome John Barilaro talking tough about Essential Energy CEO John Cleland by saying, if anyone’s job should go it should be that of the CEO.”
“But at the same time, John Barilaro’s statement today says that ‘this state-owned corporation refuses to comply with government policy’ – the Nationals need to toughen up. And the Liberals need to deliver. This is simply not acceptable, allowing the Essential Energy CEO to walk over them and defy their policy of protecting jobs.
“We are talking about communities doing it tough in the drought and job losses in our regions are just devastating.”
The ETU points to recent
