Power workers tell Old Macdonald off

Date: 11 July 2008

Power workers walked off the job at the Munmorah and Vales Point power stations on the NSW central coast last week to protest against Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald, who was using the Munmorah site for a press conference

Two-hundred-and-fifty workers lined the entrance of the power station, where the Minister launched an Australian-first pilot carbon capture project.

AMWU organiser Daniel Wallace said the workers took the action because McDonald has played a prominent role in pushing for privatisation in the Iemma Government.

"Workers are angry and they decided to line the street of the only entrance to the power station.

They wanted to make sure they gave Ian MacDonald the warm welcome that he deserves," he said.

"What they've said is they're not going to stay inside and work whilst the Minister's here selling their jobs and selling their industry."

Mr Wallace said the delegates were also disappointed to see local MPs drive straight past them through the entrance.

"I believe some of the delegates will be paying our local representatives a visit throughout this week to remind them of the important issues at stake."

The AMWU is involved in a campaign to stop the go ahead of the state's electricity network.

The sale is unpopular with the New South Wales public with 85% of people expressing opposition to it.

In May, the sale was also decisively voted down at an ALP state conference.

Despite this widespread opposition, Premier Morris Iemma and Treasurer Michael Costa have vowed to press ahead with the sale.

For further information

Contact:	Daniel Wallace
Union:	AMWU
Email:	news@amwu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.amwu.org.au

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