While other electricity companies are shedding jobs, Endeavour Energy is refusing to let its workers leave.
In a letter from human resources general manager Andrew Pitman sent out to employees the company – which services the Illawarra – is pulling back from voluntary redundancies.
“Under our new approach we won’t pay people to leave our business while there is useful work they can do,” Mr Pitman said in the letter.
That means that any voluntary redundancy application that has not already been approved will be cancelled and no further expressions of interest will be accepted.
Mr Pitman’s letter said there was $897 million in capital works to be completed over the next two years.
“We will progressively bring some work back in-house, allocate more work to the regions, reduce the number of contractors, temporary and agency staff, and bring on board an Alliance partner,” Mr Pitman said.
Endeavour Energy was the last electricity provider to be leased under the government’s poles and wires plan – a consortium of super companies picking up 50.4 per cent of it in May.
Endeavour’s actions are in stark contrast to another provider Ausgrid, which is outsourcing jobs to Indian company Tata Consultancy Services, with workers asked to train those who were taking their jobs.
United Services Union general secretary Graeme Kelly said Endeavour’s announcement was “a welcome change in direction”.
“It is a surprise, however we’re very pleased with the general direction that Endeavour are going,” Mr Kelly said.
“Our members are pleased that there will be an investment back into their own workforce and work being brought back in from past contracts.”
Glen Humphries
Illawarra Mercury
