Sydney Water workers to vote on summer strikes as management refuses to budge

Sydney Water workers will vote this week on whether to take industrial action as management continues to refuse to negotiate with them on a fair deal on conditions and pay. From today, Australian Services Union members will vote in a protected action ballot on a suite of measures including ongoing work stoppages up to 72 hours, refusing to bill customers in debt or sign contractors on to sites. The Sydney Water workers overwhelmingly rejected management’s enterprise agreement which would have seen them go backwards, working longer hours for less pay and much worse conditions. ASU NSW & ACT Secretary Angus McFarland said the protected action ballot was another sign of workers’ frustration and growing anger, and a final warning to management. “Sydney Water workers will not accept a deal that takes them backwards and significantly undermines their rights at work. So if management refuses to budge then they are headed for serious industrial action,” Mr McFarland said. “Morale is at rock bottom. These workers are completely fed up with management’s refusal to shift on their unreasonable position. If management continues to ignore workers, industrial action will occur. “Sydney Water employees don’t take industrial action lightly. They’re proud of the work they do providing safe and reliable water supply to millions of people everyday. The fact they are now at the point of taking industrial action is a sign of how serious this situation has become. “We’ve always been willing to negotiate with Sydney Water to reach a fair outcome. Sydney Water management needs to step up and show some leadership before it’s too late.”