NECA fighting ETU attempt to silence industry and workers in enterprise agreement negotiations

Before Christmas the ETU made a single interest authorisation application to the Fair Work Commission, with the consent of just two interstate contracting firms. Read ETU's proposed enterprise agreement update.

This is the starting point for a multi-enterprise that could impact every business in our industry and during FWC hearings over the last week, the ETU has attempted to prevent NECA – and the thousands of employers it represents – being part of the process.  

As the peak industry association, we represent over 2000 electrical contracting businesses in NSW and the ACT, in an industry that employs around 56,300 electricians in the state and territory. This is a far greater proportion of the industry than the ETU can claim to represent, and it is patently obvious NECA has a right to be heard in FWC proceedings that will have far reaching consequences for our industry. 

If the ETU gets its way, it can use a roping-in mechanism to capture businesses and workforces that are NOT currently a party to the agreement, locking them into restrictive, high-cost agreements which practically mirror the CFMEU clauses in agreements that we now know were abused by corrupt union officials. These agreements benefit the union and its opaque web of aligned entities, with very little benefit for employees.  

Governments and taxpayers can expect lower productivity, higher infrastructure costs, higher housing costs, increased energy bills and entrenched high-inflation if the ETU is allowed to steam roll through multi-enterprise agreements. 

NECA is deeply concerned by the ETU behaviour. We will be fighting for our members’ interests and taking every possible measure to ensure we have a voice in the FWC process. 

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