6 February 2013 Att: All General and Political reporters MEDIA RELEASE Ergon blames under staffing in regions

for outsourcing Local workers are losing local jobs to fly in crews The anger over Ergon Energys job cuts programme boiled over today when the Electrical Trades Union revealed that workers in South West Queensland were being forced to work away from home while local work is being outsourced. Electrical Trades union State Organiser Trevor Gauld said many Ergon workers were at breaking point, and morale had hit rock bottom. Our members are being forced to work away from their towns and their family with the fear their jobs may be on the line, while local work they could be doing is being outsourced to people who arent even residents of the town In a further slap in the face for the hardworking men and women of Ergon, the outsourced work is costing the company millions of dollars in contracts and overheads such as accommodation for contractors being flown in to do the work. It just does not make sense in this time of so called austerity When our members ask why they are not able to do the work that needs to be done in their local area, management says it is because there arent enough Ergon workers available to do the job Mr Gauld said the current crisis could be averted and morale improved if the State Government abandoned its 10% mandated cuts programme and actually treated its workers with good will and respect. Workers and communities are rightly asking the question, if these jobs are so vital, why were they cut in the first place and what will be the future for regional communities that rely on local crews to provide safe and reliable power?

For more details or interview Trevor Gauld (State Organiser) 0488 225 625 Dan McGaw (State Organiser SWQ) 0437 012 451 Andrew Irvine (media) 0448 633 858