More than 40 Essential Energy workers from four depots attended a meeting at Bulahdelah last Thursday, August 8 to discuss their future with Electrical Trades Union (ETU) secretary, Justin Page.
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The NSW Government-owned company last month announced plans to immediately cut 182 jobs across the Mid North Coast network, including two from Bulahdelah.
The fact that the entire Essential Energy workforce from the Dungog, Stroud, Gloucester and Bulahdelah depots came together for this meeting highlighted just how concerned local workers are about the planned job cuts, Mr Page said.
Mr Page said the immediate loss of two jobs at Bulahdelah and one at Dungog were just the tip of the iceberg.
Company documents reveal 500 more jobs will go in the coming years, he said.
The Mid North Coast is facing a disproportionate amount of pain, with more than a quarter of the total job losses occurring in this region alone.
- Justin Page
"We fear that the employees specifically targeted in this first round could be made forcibly redundant within weeks unless there is urgent intervention from the NSW Government, which owns Essential Energy.
"The Mid North Coast is facing a disproportionate amount of pain, with more than a quarter of the total job losses occurring in this region alone.
"Essential Energy workers have made contact with Member for Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead, highlighting that one in five local jobs are at risk.
"Workers are seeking a meeting with Mr Bromhead and will be urging him to join with a number of his Nationals colleagues who have publicly committed to fighting these job cuts and defending local services."
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