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Decades of Achievement |
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On 11 May 1961 the NSW Trade and Industrial union of the ETU was formed. As a registered trade union in NSW, the purpose was to access improvements in conditions of employment and other such benefits as may flow to trade union members generally. It was not long before this state registered union had over 7,000 members. At the end of 1963 the union took a very brave step and conducted an extensive campaign to claim 4 weeks annual leave for employees in the electricity supply industry. The ETU was successful following a dispute spearheaded by members employed by the Murrumbidgee County Council. In 1968 electrical tradespeople gained an advantage of $3.00 over other trades, and over the next couple of years this gap continued to increase. Since that time the electrician has maintained a significant lead of 8% and recognition as "Head of the family of trades". |
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1970 saw the ETU succeed in gaining huge wage improvements for members in the Commonwealth Public Sector. In 1973 ETU members received an annual leave loading of 17.5%. |
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In 1985 the Queensland Government planned to dramatically reduce the workforce in the electrical industry by 10% and increase the number of private contractors. The NSW Branch assisted by raising funds to assist the hundreds of Queensland branch members sacked by SEQEB . |
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By 1982 over 10,000 ETU members were employed in the task of providing the community with all the power it needed as cheaply as possible. The majority of this section of the membership was employed not in the power stations themselves but in the field ensuring that light and power got from the point of supply to the consumer, and ensuring that that line of supply is maintained. The ETU was fundamental in establishing the Electrical Contracting Industry (State) Award in 1992. The Union, as party to the Award, continue to campaign for improvements to the Award and in the era of Enterprise Bargaining to ensure that Award conditions are maintained in Enterprise Agreements. In August 1996 ETU members joined over 10,000 other Australians from all walks of life outside the Federal Parliament to rally against the proposed Workplace Relations Bill. A proposal by the Carr Labor Government in 1997, to privatise the NSW power industry forced the Union to deal with its biggest challenge in its history. The Union was successful in defeating this proposition advocated by the Premier and the Treasurer on the floor of the NSW ALP Conference by harnessing the support of fellow unionists and rank and file ALP members. A five-week dispute in the Construction Industry was ultimately successful in returning wage equity to electricians in this industry. The sparky was returned to the top of the remuneration tree. A 21% pay rise over 20 months was achieved. In 1998 Bernie Riordan was appointed Secretary following the resignation of Bert Schmidt. The Union was successful in extending the inclusion of the 36-hour working week and 9 day fortnight into all awards in the electricity distribution sector. |
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The State election in March 1999 returned the ETU to its anti-privatisation campaign. The union focused its campaign directly at the consumers and distributed 100,000 pamphlets in marginal seats highlighting the social perils of electricity privatisation. The ALP Government was returned with an increased majority. The Union’s campaign vindicated. |
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In the year 2000, the inclusion of superannuation salary sacrifice provisions in the Contracting Award was a substantial breakthrough. From "ETU The Greatest Servant – A Social History of the Electrical Trades Union (NSW Branch)" by John R. Pola
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History