The ETU has called on the ACT Chief Minister to intervene after Evoenergy announced it would dock the pay of workers who wear campaign materials or inform the public or media about their strike for a pay rise.

The ETU advised the company of a range of actions late last week, including wearing campaign badges and shirts, attaching campaign materials to emails and alerting the public to the need for a pay rise that keeps pace with inflation. Evoenergy responded with an email warning that if they participated in the activities “you will not receive any payment for the day, even if you perform other duties on the day.”

“The company is seeking to bully and intimidate its workers for taking legally protected action which was supported by 90% in a ballot. The protected actions ETU members will take on Monday are about telling the public why workers are fighting for a reasonable pay rise that meets the cost of living,” ETU NSW/ACT secretary Allen Hicks says.

“The ETU calls on the Chief Minister to intervene. Andrew Barr needs to explain to ACT residents why he is allowing a company that is half publicly owned to treat workers like this. None of the actions notified compromise energy security, supply or safety.”

He says that  ETU members will not be deterred by threats and intimidation. ETU members will continue fighting until they achieve a fair pay rise that is in line with the cost-of-living pressures.

The strike is the first such action the company has taken in many years.