TasNetworks, Tasmania’s state-owned utility, is set to file a formal complaint with the Fair Work Commission in a bid to halt ongoing strike actions by the Communications, Electrical, and Plumbing Union (CEPU). The move comes as the state braces for severe weather conditions, with warnings of potentially destructive winds.
Chief Executive Sean McGoldrick announced the legal action after the union reportedly disregarded a directive to pause its industrial action, which he invoked in response to the imminent adverse weather. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a warning of “damaging to locally destructive winds” expected to begin on Tuesday morning. The alert covers all of Tasmania, with wind gusts predicted to reach up to 110 kilometers per hour across most regions.
In light of the forecast, McGoldrick expressed concern over the potential impact on power services. “In similar past events with wind speeds of up to 110 kilometers per hour, we have seen more than 10,000 customers affected by outages,” he said. “I am determined to prevent such a situation from recurring.”
Despite the severe weather forecast, the CEPU has announced that its strike will continue. The union has indicated that it will only suspend the action in critical situations, such as power restoration at hospitals or aged care facilities, and to ensure safety around downed power lines.
The dispute centers on the union’s demand for pay parity with counterparts in other states, which they claim justifies their current industrial action.
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