48 hour power blackouts in Queensland

[Julia]

Today's paper has an article advising that Ergon, Powerlink and Energex workers are intending to strike for 48 hours as from Wednesday and this could result in no power to consumers for this entire period!

I just can't believe they can do something so irresponsible.

Does anyone know if the government has the capacity to stop this?

Just imagine: coldest time of the year - no heating, no cooking (unless you have gas), no hot water, no computers, businesses will be unable to function etc etc.

Apparently the pay claim they are seeking amounts to a 10.3% increase.

 

[prawn_86]

IS it a 10% rise for 1 yr or over a few yrs?

10% isnt that much really, in real terms its only 6%.

If they have the power (no pun intended) then why not use it? I would be more angry at the gov/employers than the workers themselves. Sometimes you have to make people suffer in order to get noticed, like the recent Dr pay dispute in Sth Aus

 

[Julia]

I
If they have the power (no pun intended) then why not use it?

Why not? Because, prawn, of all the huge inconvenience I have outlined above! 48 hours for God's sake, in the middle of winter.

 

[nomore4s]

10% isnt that much really, in real terms its only 6%.

Unless you're footing the wages bill.

 

[Nyden]

I hate Unions, I hate protesters, & I hate strikes. Did I mention that I hate Labor as well? :

I'm of the opinion that if you don't like your job/pay, simply switch careers - or stop whining about it. An increase in their wage means we'll all pay even more for electricity ... sigh, inflation anyone? Bunch of slobs should save their money instead of asking for more - one less six-pack a day goes a long way.

... I honestly dream of a world with less freedom; where idiots like this would go to prison

 

[Rafa]

but think about the benifit to the environment....

 

[michael_selway]

Today's paper has an article advising that Ergon, Powerlink and Energex workers are intending to strike for 48 hours as from Wednesday and this could result in no power to consumers for this entire period!

I just can't believe they can do something so irresponsible.

Does anyone know if the government has the capacity to stop this?

Just imagine: coldest time of the year - no heating, no cooking (unless you have gas), no hot water, no computers, businesses will be unable to function etc etc.

Apparently the pay claim they are seeking amounts to a 10.3% increase.

Which cities/towns in QLD will be affected?

thx

MS

 

[prawn_86]

Why not? Because, prawn, of all the huge inconvenience I have outlined above! 48 hours for God's sake, in the middle of winter.

but how else are they supposed to get what they want?

Obviously i dont know the situation, but im guessing they tried to negotiate with their employer before coming to this measure. Unfortunately some employers just dont seem to listen, especially gov agencies.

I do agree with Nyden re: inflation. Its a classical recession/slowdown sign isnt it? High inflation fuels wage demand as the cost of living increases. Methinks it will behere for a while yet...

 

[Nyden]

but how else are they supposed to get what they want?

They don't. That's the whole point - how does that song go; "You can't always get what you want". Sure, I'd love to get a 15-20% pay rise without any additional work or education; but guess what - it just ain't gonna happen! I'm not going to go on strike because of it, I'm not going to inconvenience everyone just because I'd like more money.

If anything, this is going to make a lot of people angry - & generate even less sympathy for them.

We've all had it too good, simple as that; & now things need to balance out. You can't be on a mortgage & living the high life - can't have your cake, & eat it too. In Europe, they've had high petrol prices for years, high costs of food, house prices, & everything else.

What, just because this is Australia - "the lucky country", everyone deserves a house - with all the trimmings, a 20k car, & an easy-going lifestyle? Without having to work extra for any of it?? Wasn't that moron Rudd going on about something like that? Making it law to only work 38 hours a week, & more "sociable" hours? Give me a break.

Disclaimer; I have the flu, & am very cranky!

 

[Smurf1976]

Bottom line is there's a chronic skills shortage in the industry, a direct result of 1990's outsourcing, and we have a government that promotes capitalism as the ideal.

Under that situation the workers would be crazy NOT to demand massive wage rises. It's no different to what happens with anything else when there's a shortage - consumers are held to ransom.

If I need, say, a lawyer and can't afford a rate that's several times the hourly income of the average worker then I'll be held to ransom by the legal industry - no $, no lawyer. That I might end up in prison or otherwise massively disadvantaged doesn't count - pay up or no lawyer,

If I need a house and can't afford DOUBLE the historic price relative to wages then I'll be held to ransom by builders and home owners - pay up or no house.

If I simply want to eat then it's pay up or literally starve. That food is an absolute necessity doesn't matter - pay up or don't eat.

And so on.

I can understand the point about inconvenience, economic loss etc very well. I'd better not elaborate too much, but let's just say that where I work there has never been an impact on the public due to strike action. I don't work for an electricity distrbution company however.

But I'll bet the wages of these guys have failed to keep pace with house prices, petrol and the incomes of many other workers in recent years so I don't blame them for wanting more. That's assuming, of course, that negotiation has already been tried and failed - I don't know the facts on that one.

I know of one situation in another state where the workers have waited, thus far, 2.5 years for an outcome. That's ridiculous by any standards when even the employer freely admits they're being seriously underpaid. Indeed workers and management both agree on what's right as far as pay is concerned - and yes it's a big increase in the order of 50% in line with the market. So what's holding things up? The union.

 

[Uncle Festivus]

I hate Unions, I hate protesters, & I hate strikes. Did I mention that I hate Labor as well? :

I'm of the opinion that if you don't like your job/pay, simply switch careers - or stop whining about it. An increase in their wage means we'll all pay even more for electricity ... sigh, inflation anyone? Bunch of slobs should save their money instead of asking for more - one less six-pack a day goes a long way.

... I honestly dream of a world with less freedom; where idiots like this would go to prison

No need to dream, you can go to such a place right now, and I'm sure a few of us would help you get there - how about a one way ticket to China or Russia?

These 'slobs' are out there at 2am minus 2 deg while you're warm in bed just so you can express your opinion about how ungrateful you are. How much would you want to be compensated for your efforts?

I'm of the opinion that if you don't like your job/pay, simply switch careers - or stop whining about it. An increase in their wage means we'll all pay even more for electricity ... sigh, inflation anyone?

Simple - don't use electricity, or stop whining about the price of it.

 

[Tysonboss1]

I say give every worker in Australia a 10% pay increase every year,

and every year put the retail prices of products and services up, that way we are all happy,.....

 

[Nyden]

No need to dream, you can go to such a place right now, and I'm sure a few of us would help you get there - how about a one way ticket to China or Russia?

These 'slobs' are out there at 2am minus 2 deg while you're warm in bed just so you can express your opinion about how ungrateful you are. How much would you want to be compensated for your efforts?



Simple - don't use electricity, or stop whining about the price of it.

I did come way tad too harsh; I do have the flu : Pills have kicked in now!

However, my basic point still stands; people enter careers knowing the demands of the job they want - & knowing the pay, as well as the conditions.

What right does anyone have to want more money without more work? We've got people going on strike; left, right, & centre at the moment - teachers, engineers, nurses, & now these guys.

Do these people not see that they are essentially part of the cause of the "increased costs of living"? Or, in their dream worlds - does the additional money just come out of thin air?

Don't give me a bleeding heart for them either; if they're willing to pull a stunt like this; then I have 0 respect for them.

Should we pay garbage men an extra 20% this year as well? Heck, they're out there at 4am in the blistering cold too ; but they, just as these blokes - knew that when they got the job.

I've had jobs that involved many unpleasant things; but that didn't entitle me to anything extra.

Hard economic times mean just that; hard times. Everyone has to suffer a little, you can't just snap your fingers, & ask for good times again.

In short; cut your expenditure, not demand more to spend.


However, it isn't the fact that they want a pay rise that angers me; it's the means they're willing to go to get it. They can want a pay rise, they can hope, & negotiate for a pay rise - but not cut off the blooming power.

It's when people get greedy, & expect industry-wide pay increases that exceed the CPI; without anything extra to add, that I get upset at.

How can people not be angry at this sort of stunt? What if they were fighting for a 100% pay rise? Cut all of our power for weeks on end, demanding we double their pay?

 

[prawn_86]

I understd what your saying Nyden, but the basis of a 'capitalist' society is the market system, so why not try to get more if you can. As another member said skills shortage etc leads to wage growth.

Sure they knew the approx wages when they entered the job, but they did not know what the economic climate (inflation, fuel etc) would do, so they may as well try and get a raise i say.

Yes they are fuelling the inflation by asking for a raise, but essentially everyone is out for themselves so if they can get paid well then why should they care what happens to the others.

The debate over capitalism v socialism is an entirely different topic. Perhaps Kennas can open up that can next Saturday

 

[sails]

Having been through power blackouts in Qld in the past (and some lengthy ones when my children were under 5 yrs of age), it's hard to believe that anyone could be so selfish to willingly cause suffering to fellow humans just to get a pay increase.

Have they thought about:

Croupy babies and little kids needing humidifiers to breathe through the night - croup can be fatal...

No way of sterilizing babies bottles or water causing gastro-enteritis...

Kidney sufferers needing electricity for their dialysis machines...

Most fridge and freezer contents would be ruined in 48 hours and the risk of food poisoning where people don't want to throw out food that may not have been kept cold enough...

The use of candles for lighting - hence increasing fire risk...

etc, etc...


If they insist on hurting the public, perhaps they could resort to some sort of load shedding where the blackouts only last for a couple of hours at a time. Surely this would adequately get the message across to the government while still hurting and inconviencing the public but would at least seriously reduce the life threatening risk of total blackouts.

Oh well, my

 

[Nyden]

but essentially everyone is out for themselves so if they can get paid well then why should they care what happens to the others.

Well, it goes the other way as well though, doesn't it? Why should we care about them? I'd much rather have cheaper electricity, then them having more money.

Oh, & Uncle - why is it so bad to wish for a reduction in freedom; to the point where ordinary people do not have the authority to selfishly cut off the power to people? I'm not saying we cut away their rights to strike (I hate that, but believe it's a freedom everyone should still have), & protest - but surely they shouldn't be able to take away the services we pay for / need.

 

[Doris]

Thanks for the heads-up Julia!
e.g. manual (wind-up) alarm clocks... in case!

Have a look at what Joh did in 1985:

http://www.greenleft.org.au/2005/625/34823


How can the unions give a written assurance?

Energy Minister Geoff Wilson was critical of the proposed strike action, saying it could put public safety at risk and cut electricity supply to homes and businesses.

He said the three government-owned corporations would seek written assurances from the union that public safety and electricity supply would not be compromised.

Power workers in the private sector in Queensland earned on average $31.80 per hour.
Ergon and Energex workers received $29.05 an hour.

The Government had offered a 4.5 per cent pay increase, but power workers wanted an extra $1.50 an hour. (10.3%)

An Energex spokesman said previous strikes had not adversely affected consumers.

He said maintenance upgrades, network improvements and connecting new customers would likely be affected by the industrial action.

Ergon and Powerlink workers will strike for 48 hours from 6am Wednesday.
Energex staff in the southeast corner will be out for 24 hours from 6am Thursday.

"We will have standby crews who will go to emergencies . . . but there are going to be massive delays and people will be affected," Mr Simpson (ETU) said.

"Every safety issue, every loss of supply will be attended, but it will not be immediate. Someone could be without power for 48 hours."

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24009746-3102,00.html

 

[Julia]

N


Simple - don't use electricity, or stop whining about the price of it.

That's just a stupid thing to say. We cannot manage without electricity.
I am not whining about the price. Are you seriously suggesting we should feel quite happy about having no hot water, no hot food or drinks, and no heating for 48 hours?

And Prawn, too, if you are so supportive of the electricity workers' demands, would you feel cool about having no computer access to the market for two days? Wouldn't you get hungry after about 12 hours?
What about all the businesses which will be unable to function? Doctor's surgeries whose equipment will be unusable? So many ramifications.


And as Sails has pointed out, they are potentially putting lives at risk if they cut power generation.

They, together with the government, should get their butts into the Dispute Resolution Centre quick smart, be prepared to compromise (you can't always have what you want, as Nyden points out), and just consider the lives of ordinary people.

And to whoever it was who asked which towns could be affected (sorry, can't remember who it was now), it will potentially cover the whole of Queensland as I understand today's news article. Maybe Google your local power supply authority for more info.

This is no way to garner public sympathy. OK, do rolling strikes of a couple of hours if absolutely necessary, but even that is imo on the nose.

 

[Wysiwyg]

That's just a stupid thing to say. We cannot manage without electricity.

Yes we can.Think outside the comfort zone and there will be a solution.We will survive.

And as Sails has pointed out, they are potentially putting lives at risk if they cut power generation.

If anyones life is lost due to power loss from strike action then I think all those striking could be held directly responsible for the death.

And finally, from my experience of working in a power station ... some Australian workers don`t know how well off they are.

 

[prawn_86]

And Prawn, too, if you are so supportive of the electricity workers' demands, would you feel cool about having no computer access to the market for two days? Wouldn't you get hungry after about 12 hours?
What about all the businesses which will be unable to function? Doctor's surgeries whose equipment will be unusable? So many ramifications.

Of course I wouldnt like the fact i had no power, but if it is the only way they can get attention, then they have to do what they have to do.

I do agree that rolling strikes would probably be a better option, but to me the fault lies with thge employers not the workers, as im assuming that they have tried negotiating before taking this drastic step.