Water works hit by work bans

Date: 14 July 2004

Irrigation supplies from the Goulburn-Murray Water authority in northern Victoria could be affected by work bans unless an industrial dispute is resolved, The Australian Workers' Union said today.

More than 70 maintenance and construction workers based at Kerang, Tatura and Cobram have implemented work bans as part of an enterprise bargaining dispute. The industrial action includes a work-to-rule and bans on meter readings, working with contractors, attending meetings, reporting in writing to management and adjusting water levels except where people or property could be endangered.

An overwhelming majority of workers voted in favour of the industrial action last month to support their claim for a 4% annual wage rise. The workers voted to reject Goulburn-Murray Water management's offer of a 3% annual pay increase.

AWU National Secretary Bill Shorten said that Goulburn-Murray Water management was refusing to pass on an industry standard 4% pay rise to workers in the local catchment. "Maintenance and construction workers at Goulburn-Murray Water are already paid about 20% less than equivalent metropolitan workers, but it does not cost 20% less to live in the region," Mr Shorten said.

"Goulburn-Murray Water cannot expect to pay its workers less than everyone else doing the same jobs in the same industry," Mr Shorten said. "Some of the workers are so low paid that a parent with three children and a spouse who doesn't work could be better off on the dole."

Mr Shorten also criticised the Victorian Government's appointment this month of controversial former Liberal MP and Kennett Government Minister Marie Tehan to the Board of Goulburn-Murray Water.

"It seems odd that we have a Labor Government that will appoint Marie Tehan to the Board of Goulburn-Murray Water when the authority cannot even offer a decent pay rise to its workers," Mr Shorten said.

The dispute could affect the irrigation water sales season later in the year if essential construction and maintenance works are delayed. Workers voted to step up the work bans this week after Goulburn-Murray Water management refused to improve its wage rise offer.

For further information

Contact:	Jeremy Vermeesch
Union:	The Australian Workers' Union
Phone:	03 8327 0888
WWW:	http://www.awu.net.au

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