Workers at the Australian Energy Market Operator have escalated industrial action during enterprise bargaining negotiations, prompting AEMO to apply for an order to suspend the bans. The operator contended the industrial action could cause catastrophic risks, including blackouts and danger to lives, ABC News reported. The Fair Work Commission granted a limited suspension of some of the actions.
Professionals Australia, the union representing engineers, scientists and analysts at AEMO, is seeking pay rises of 4.2% for each of two successive financial years, with a floor tied to movements in inflation. AEMO's offer is also 4.2% per year but does not include any inflation floor. Workers have rejected the offer on three separate occasions, and after the most recent rejection AEMO withdrew back pay dating from the start of July.
Total salaries and short-term benefits paid to AEMO executives in the year to 30 June were $7.2 million, up from $6.9 million in FY25 and $3.3 million in FY21, according to the operator's annual financial statements. Executives received almost the entirety of their available short-term incentive payments last year. More than 100 staff voted in favour of a motion suggesting chief executive Daniel Westerman consider resigning.
Thomas Whibley of Professionals Australia said his members would not take any action that put public safety at risk. He described AEMO's approach to negotiations as hardline and counterproductive, and said workers should not bear the cost of what he characterised as poor decisions by highly paid executives.
An AEMO spokesman said the organisation's costs are ultimately passed through to consumers, meaning any pay increase needed to be considered alongside cost-of-living pressures. Professionals Australia lodged a bargaining application with the Fair Work Commission, which will attempt to arbitrate a settlement.
Consumers may face higher electricity costs if pay rises are awarded, as AEMO's operating costs are passed through to customers. A blackout affecting South Australia in 2016 cost businesses in that state more than $360 million.
Reporting: ABC News
Background: RenewEconomy, iTnews
Written by Pick & Scroll News from the reporting and documents linked above.
