Last year global energy company , Engie advised of their intention to close the older Hazellwood power station , in the State of Victoria in Australia . With great concern expressed by the community, workers and their Unions ,,, including PSI Affiliates the ETU and ASU .
Since then the Unions, the Local combined Union body the Gippsland Trades and Labour Council , the State government , Engie and other electricity power station generators in the same region have been dealing with this issue of "just transition" for workers and their community.
Last week the State Government , Unions and Employers announced a " just transition' package for the workers and their community'.
The package under the banner ' Worker transfer scheme gives Hazelwood workers a Fresh start " , announced by the State government provides for
- Highly skilled Hazelwood workers will be able to transfer to other power generators
- In in-principle agreement (by the Government) with Engie to allow their Hazelwood workers to move to Loy Yang B, which they also operate.
- The scheme will help around 150 retrenched Hazelwood workers remain in the power industry by allowing them to transfer to other power generators – in the first instance AGL’s Loy Yang A.
- Early retirement packages offered to AGL workers will help create vacancies for workers displaced by the closure of Hazelwood. Government support to assist employers in these packages and packages and facilitate the re-deployment of Hazelwood workers.
- Former Federal Minister Simon Crean was appointed by the Government to act as a facilitator between the unions and employers at all four generators and mines.
- The worker transfer scheme is part of the Victorian Government’s $266 million package for the Latrobe Valley, which includes the $50 million Economic Growth Zone to support business growth and the establishment of the Latrobe Valley Authority(LVA).
- The LVA’s worker transition service is also providing tailored support to workers and families to give them the skills, training, information and personal support they need to make a fresh start.
" A special $20 million worker transfer package was announced today for workers affected by the closure of Engie’s Hazelwood Power Station. This will allow early retirement for workers at other LaTrobe Power stations creating places for Hazelwood workers that want to continue their careers in power generation. This transfer package is an important component of a suite of support mechanisms being put into place for the community, a part of a just transition being pioneered by the Victorian government driven by the necessity to move to zero carbon emissions by climate change."
"What was perhaps less well publicised, but equally important for just transition for the wider LaTrobe Valley community, was an $85 million package for new and upgraded sporting facilities in the towns across the valley. This will create 300 jobs during the construction phase and 275 ongoing jobs in sports and related areas."
Photo: by Wendy Farmer, Voices of the Valley. Premier Dan Andrews in Morwell announcing the worker transition package "
" The worker transition scheme has been developed by former Federal Minister Simon Crean, who was appointed by the Victorian Government, to act as a facilitator between the unions and employers at all four coal generators and mines in the LaTrobe Valley."
"This $20 million worker transfer scheme is one part of the Labor Government’s $266 million package for the Latrobe Valley. This includes $50 million allocated for an Economic Growth Zone to support business growth, and the establishment of the Latrobe Valley Authority (LVA)."
Read the full story and workers, http://nofibs.com.au/victoria-pioneering-climate-justtransition-package-for-hazelwood-coal-workers-reports-takvera/
Additional , more recent, article with more detail is located at the Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/17/the-hazelwood-transition-deal-gives-my-wife-and-i-a-future-in-our-hometown?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+AUS+v1+-+AUS+morning+mail+callout&utm_term=217729&subid=20754487&CMP=ema_632
Nb - The PSI and other GUFs , negotiated an agreement with Engie , formally called GDF - Suez , in 2014, covering sustainable development , health and safety , consultation and more , the agreement for re use by PSI affiliates can be located at can be located PSI web site http://www.world-psi.org/sites/default/files/documents/research/accord_mondial_sante_securite_may._13_2014_-en1.pdf
Earlier blog item at http://gmpsiaprec.blogspot.com.au/2016/11/australian-unions-release-discussion.html
Earlier blog item at http://gmpsiaprec.blogspot.com.au/2016/11/australian-unions-release-discussion.html
