Industrial Action at Sydney Water
Updated: 17 November 2023
ASU members have voted to reject the latest offer from Sydney Water. We have written to the General Manager, Roch Cheroux.
Read our letter here.
Deputy Secretary Jan Primrose writes:
"Today ASU members are taking strike action. Next week there will be further strike action across Sydney
Water.
For the past month, members of the Combined Water Unions have also been taking industrial
action, imposing bans, and limitations across Sydney Water.
Most of those members have never taken industrial action before. In the case of the SOC, it is almost thirty
(30) years since they last made the decision to strike.
The decision to strike is never taken lightly.
In the midst of the worst cost of living crisis in decades and
three previous EA’s that effectively meant austerity level pay cuts, the implications of this decision by our
members to sacrifice their family income should not be underestimated."
Previous Updates:
Taking industrial action
After months of failed negotiations, workers at Sydney Water have made the difficult decision to take industrial action.
Essential workers deserve better.
We remain absolutely committed to working constructively to achieve a fair pay rise and conditions for everyone at Sydney Water.
In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, we are prepared to negotiate, but we will not give up hard won conditions, or settle for an unfair pay rise.
We do want:
- An EA for everyone – not different deals for different people
- A real wage rise – not a once-off payment that is gone with one mortgage or rent increase
- A pay rise every year on 1 July – that is backdated in the first year
- Allowances to be increased at the same rate as wage rises
We do not want:
- To be forced to work a 38-hour week or lose our RDOs
- Our 35-hour week at risk with a restructure or when we change jobs
- A longer span of hours that puts overtime at risk and makes it impossible for people who travel long distances to work, or have caring responsibilities
Please talk with your delegate and organiser about what actions are being taken on your site and in your workplace.
Remember that you are only protected when you take approved Protected Actions on this list.
Potential ASU Protected Industrial Actions
on all sites from Friday, 3 November 2023
- Take protected industrial action in the form of an unlimited number of stoppages of work of 1 minute to 72 hours in duration;
Communicating with the public about purpose and nature of protected action
- Distribute, display and speak with media and the public with information approved by the Combined Water Unions about the nature and purpose of the protected industrial action, including installing or inserting posters and other information or material on Sydney Water Corporation vehicles, property, uniforms and/or correspondence
- Cover Sydney Water logos on clothing, and assets, including vehicles for an indefinite period or for indefinite periods of time
Hours and location of work
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on the performance of work outside ordinary working hours, including working on RDO’s, logging into computers or turning on mobile phones or tablets outside ordinary hours of work. In circumstances that constitute an emergency situation posing a risk to life or serious injury or serious illness the industrial action will be suspended until the situation is resolved.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on the use of Genesys based phone systems to enter ‘after call work’ for the minimum period after taking a call and before answering the next call.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on performing work at a Sydney Water Office location where work can be performed from home.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on commencing a shift at sites where work is scheduled, other than the depot nearest to an employee’s place of residence and employees will return to that depot for meal breaks.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on any participation in roster reviews or working or implementing any new rosters.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on moving float or swing shifts to cover planned or unplanned leave.
Data and Technology
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on the use of any Sydney Water applications, including fatigue app, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), Whispers, pre start checks, CLICK, FRM, CATS, SCADA. with exceptions when driving heavy vehicles. In circumstances that constitute an emergency situation posing a risk to life or serious injury or serious illness the industrial action will be suspended until the situation is resolved.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on data entry, including entering water quality data and field data into Scada Central.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on participation in virtual, online meetings and teleconferences with Sydney Water Management.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on receiving or signing off work orders by email.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on swiping on ID cards when driving SW vehicles.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on using personal resources, including phones and vehicles for Sydney Water purposes.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on taking or processing any work-related photography
Work Bans
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on processing Sundry Debtor notifications.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on contractors’ access to site Contractors to only be given site access for emergency work (P5 and P6 breakdown maintenance) and for completing safety related work orders of any priority. These bans are applicable to Regional Delivery Consortia delivery partners only. In circumstances that constitute an emergency situation posing a risk to life or serious injury or serious illness the industrial action will be suspended until the situation is resolved.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on work shutdowns for contractors.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on undertaking work to complete or repair work commenced by contractors that is incomplete, unsafe or not fit-for-purpose.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on dispatching other than P5/P6 faults or upgraded to P5 or P6.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on completing desk top estimates or customer impact statements.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on providing access or assistance to contractors on capital works projects or other construction work at Water & Wastewater Treatment Plants and Ocean Treatment Plants. In circumstances that constitute an emergency situation posing a risk to life or serious injury or serious illness the industrial action will be suspended until the situation is resolved.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on Sect 73 applications for development services and development partnerships in CG&D.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on all Water, Wastewater and Ocean Treatment Plant tours, including SWC Business customers and SWC Business Partners.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on work not classified as high-priority work. In circumstances that constitute an emergency situation posing a risk to life or serious injury or serious illness the industrial action will be suspended until the situation is resolved.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on processing Operational Change Requests submitted with less than 3 days’ notice. Operational Change Requests deemed by SWC as essential or reactive or that require less than 3 days’ notice are to be accompanied by a risk analysis according SWCs risk matrix. Only a risk analysis rating of ‘high’ or ‘very high’ will allow the work to proceed.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on processing Operational Change Requests relating to reservoir inspections by diver or remote operated vehicle.
- Impose indefinite bans on processing Operational Change Requests relating to radial power outages where supply is maintained to site.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on processing Operational Change Requests relating Broderson RTU upgrades or installations.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on processing Operational Change Requests relating to trial shutdowns of SWC assets.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on processing planned Operational Change Requests for work involving new connections to Sydney Water networks.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on prioritising work where a service provider fails to satisfy a priority 6 response time. In these cases a new work order will be created.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on the production, creation, maintenance or change of Power BI dashboards.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on members participating in Voluntary Demand Response activities or contractual ‘load shedding’.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on participating in Emergency Demand Reduction activities or NSW Government ‘load shedding’.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on additional recourse calls before shift commencement.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on toolbox meetings, production meetings, process meetings and maintenance meetings. In circumstances that constitute an emergency situation posing a risk to life or serious injury or serious illness the industrial action will be suspended until the situation is resolved.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on observing energy tariffs during operational scheduling. In circumstances that constitute an emergency situation posing a risk to life or serious injury or serious illness the industrial action will be suspended until the situation is resolved.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on working outside position descriptions or undertaking additional tasks, including performing as a FIFMP trainer, or expediting FIFMP reviews. In circumstances that constitute an emergency situation posing a risk to life or serious injury or serious illness the industrial action will be suspended until the situation is resolved.
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on Operational Change Requests for SOC Reviews without a minimum of 6 working days' notice
+Head Office, Potts Hill, and Sydney Olympic Park
Commencing on 19 October 2023 and for an indefinite period of time, members of the ASU who are employed by Sydney Water and located in the Sydney Water Head Office and the Sydney Water Contact Centre, located at 1 Smith Street Parramatta, 20 William Holmes St, Potts Hill and 4 Herb Elliott Ave, Sydney Olympic Park, will continue to:
- impose indefinite or periodic bans on participation in virtual, online meetings and teleconferences with Sydney Water management;
- impose indefinite or periodic bans on performing any work in the Sydney Water office that can be carried out at home;
- impose indefinite or periodic bans on working outside position descriptions or undertaking additional tasks, including performing as a FIFMP trainer or expediting FIFMP reviews; and
- distribute, display and speak with media and the public with information approved by the Combined Water Unions about the nature and purpose of the protected industrial action, including installing or inserting posters and other information or material on Sydney Water Corp vehicles, property, uniforms and/or correspondence.
- cover Sydney Water logos on clothing and assets, including vehicles.
Commencing on 26 October and for an indefinite time, members of the ASU who are employed by Sydney Water Corp and are located in the Sydney Water offices will impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on:
- the use of any Sydney Water applications, including fatigue app, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), Whispers, prestart checks, CLICK, FRM, CATS, SCADA. with exceptions when driving heavy vehicles
+Contact Centre
Commencing on 19 October 2023 and for an indefinite period of time, members of the ASU who are employed by Sydney Water and located in the Sydney Water Customer Service Centre, located at 1 Smith St, Parramatta will impose indefinite bans on processing Sundry Debtor notifications.
Commencing on 26 October 2023 and for an indefinite period of time, members of the ASU who are employed by Sydney Water and located in the Sydney Water Contact Centre, will impose indefinite bans on & the use of Genesys based phone systems to enter ‘after call work’ for the minimum period after taking a call and before answering the next call.
+City Growth and Development
Commencing on 19 October 2023 and for a period of two weeks, members of the ASU who are employed by Sydney Water and located in the Sydney Water City Growth and Development Department, located at 1 Smith St, Parramatta, will impose bans on: :
- s. 73 applications for development services and development partnerships in CG&D; and;
- work not classified as high-priority work, that does not impact upon public or environmental safety. In circumstances that constitute an emergency situation posing a risk to life or serious injury or serious illness this industrial action will be suspended until the situation is resolved.
+Civil Delivery and Networks
Commencing on 19 October 2023 and for an indefinite period, members of the ASU who are employed by Sydney Water in the Civil Delivery and Networks Team, and who are based at:
- Seven Hills Depot;
- Prestons Depot;
- St Marys Depot, Links Rd, St Marys;
- Miranda Depot;
- Ryde Depot;
- Warriewood Depot;
- Unanderra Depot; or
- Leura Depot,
but who may work at other locations, will impose unlimited and indefinite bans:
- on the performance of work outside ordinary working hours, including working on RDOs, logging into computers or turning on mobile phones or tablets outside ordinary hours of work. In circumstances that constitute an emergency situation posing a risk to life or serious injury or serious illness the industrial action will be suspended until the situation is resolved;
- on swiping ID cards when driving Sydney Water Corp vehicles;
- on taking or processing any work-related photography; and
- except when driving heavy vehicles, on the use of any Sydney Water Corp applications, including but not limited to fatigue app, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), Whispers, pre start checks, CLICK, FRM, CATS, and SCADA. However, in circumstances that constitute an emergency situation posing a risk to life or serious injury or serious illness this industrial action will be suspended until the situation is resolved.
Commencing on 26 October 2023 and for an indefinite period, members of the ASU who are employed by Sydney Water in the Civil Delivery and Networks Team, will impose unlimited and indefinite bans:
- on work not classified as high-priority work. However, in circumstances that constitute an emergency situation posing a risk to life or serious injury or serious illness this industrial action will be suspended until the situation is resolved
+Customer Hub
Commencing on 19 October 2023 and for an indefinite period, members of the ASU who are employed by Sydney Water in the Customer Hub, located at 1 Smith St, Parramatta, will impose periodic bans:
- until 27 October 2023, on the use of any Sydney Water applications, including but not limited to fatigue app, BYOD, Whispers, pre start checks, CLICK, FRM, CATS, SCADA, with exceptions when driving heavy vehicles;
- completing desk top estimates or customer impact statements; and
- until 30 October 2023, on dispatching, other than P5/P6 faults or upgraded to P5 or P6.
+Treatment Ocean and Filtration Plants
From 19 October 2023 and for an indefinite period, members of the ASU who are employed by Sydney Water in Treatment plants located at Treatment plants at:
- The Chase Rd, Orchard Hills;
- 97 Grose Vale Rd, North Richmond;
- 1 Fisherman Rd, Malabar;
- 178 Blair St, Bondi;
- 2 Blue Fish Rd, Manly;
- Lot 3 Mile End Rd, Rouse Hill;
- Valley Rd, Hornsby;
- Links Rd, St Marys;
- 190 Wrights Rd, Castle Hill;
- 553 Hawkesbury Rd, Winmalee;
- 2191A Castlereagh Rd, Penrith;
- Victoria Rd, Macquarie Fields;
- 32-40 Scrivener St, Liverpool;
- Ferguson Lane, Grasmere;
- 380 Captain Cook Drive, Cronulla;
- Port Kembla Rd, Wollongong; or
- 92 Junction Rd, Shell Harbour,
But who may work at other will only provide site access to contractors for emergency work (P5 and P6 breakdown maintenance) and for completing safety related work orders of any priority. These bans are applicable to Regional Delivery Consortia delivery partners only. In circumstances that constitute an emergency situation posing a risk to life or serious injury or serious illness this industrial action will be suspended until the situation is resolved.
Commencing on 19 October and for an indefinite period, members of the ASU who are employed by Sydney Water in Treatment plants at the listed specified locations, will impose bans on:
- work shutdowns for contractors;
- providing access or assistance to contractors on capital works projects or other construction work at Water & Wastewater Treatment Plants and Ocean Treatment Plants, and Ocean Treatment plants that does not impact public or environmental safety. In circumstances that constitute an emergency situation posing a risk to life or serious injury or serious illness this industrial action will be suspended until the situation is resolved;
- undertaking work to complete or repair work commenced by contractors that is incomplete, unsafe or not fit-for-purpose; and
- toolbox meetings, production meetings, process meetings and maintenance meetings. In circumstances that constitute an emergency situation posing a risk to life or serious injury or serious illness this industrial action will be suspended until the situation is resolved.
+Systems Operating Centre (SOC)
From 19 October 2023 and for an indefinite period, members of the ASU members of the ASU who are employed by Sydney Water in the SOC will distribute, display and speak with media and the public with information approved by the Combined Water Unions about the nature and purpose of the protected industrial action, including installing or inserting posters and other information or material on Sydney Water vehicles, property, uniforms and/or correspondence and will impose bans:
- on processing IICATS alarms that are not classified as high priority work, that does not impact public or environmental safety. In circumstances that constitute an emergency situation posing a risk to life or serious injury or serious illness this industrial action will be suspended until the situation is resolved.
- responding or participating in Voluntary Demand Response activities or contractual ‘load shedding’; and
- responding or participating in Emergency Reduction activities or NSW Government ‘load shedding’ Applications for load shedding or demand reduction;
- on processing Operational Change Requests submitted with less than 3 days’ notice involving shutdowns for contractors. However, Operational Change Requests deemed by Sydney Water Corp as essential or reactive or that require less than 3 days’ notice are to be accompanied by a risk analysis according to Sydney Water Corp’s risk matrix. This industrial action will be suspended until work processing the Operational Change Request has taken place only if there is a risk analysis rating of ‘high’ or ‘very high’.
- on processing Operational Change Requests relating to reservoir inspections by diver or remote operated vehicle;
- on processing Operational Change Requests relating to radial power outages;
- on processing Operational Change Requests relating to trial shutdowns;
- on processing Operational Change Requests relating to Broderson RTU upgrades or installations; and
- on processing planned Operational Change Requests for work involving new connections to Sydney Water networks.
- on participating in any activity, including CDP or training related work where this is not classified as high priority work, that does not impact public or environmental safety; and
- on working outside of ordinary working hours, including taking telephone calls.
+Operational Analysts
From 19 October 2023 and for an indefinite period, members of the ASU who are employed by Sydney Water as Operational Analysts will impose bans:
- on participating in any activity, including CDP or training related work where this is not classified as high priority work, that does not impact public or environmental safety; and
- on working outside of ordinary working hours, including taking telephone calls; and
- on toolbox meetings, production meetings, process meetings and maintenance meetings;
- on participation in virtual, online meetings and teleconferences with Sydney Water management; and
- on work not classified as high priority work, and
- impose periodic bans on work shutdowns for contractors; and
- not participate in any activity related to the production, creation, maintenance or change of Power BI dashboards.
+Data Analysts
From 19 October 2023 and for an indefinite period, members of the ASU who are employed by Sydney Water as Data Analysts will impose bans:
- on participating in any activity, including CDP or training related work where this is not classified as high priority work, that does not impact public or environmental safety; and
- on working outside of ordinary working hours, including taking telephone calls;
- on toolbox meetings, production meetings, process meetings and maintenance meetings;
- on participation in virtual, online meetings and teleconferences with Sydney Water management;
- on work not classified as high priority work;
- impose periodic bans on work shutdowns for contractors; and
- not participate in any activity related to the production, creation, maintenance or change of Power BI dashboards.
+Laboratories and Sampling Team
Commencing on 19 October 2023 and for an indefinite period, members of the ASU who are employed by Sydney Water in laboratories or in the Sampling Team located at 51 Hermitage Rd, West Ryde, will:
- distribute, display and speak with media and the public with information approved by the Combined Water Unions about the nature and purpose of the protected industrial action, including installing or inserting posters and other information or material on Sydney Water Corp vehicles, property, uniforms and/or correspondence;
- cover Sydney Water logos on clothing, and assets, including vehicles for an indefinite period or for indefinite periods of time;
- impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on the performance of work outside ordinary working hours, including working on RDOs, logging into computers or turning on mobile phones or tablets outside ordinary hours of work;
- impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on performing work at a Sydney Water Office location where work can be performed from home; and
- Impose an unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on participation in virtual, online meetings and teleconferences with Sydney Water management.
+Customer Water Quality Team
Commencing on 26 October 2023 and for an indefinite period, members of the ASU who are employed by Sydney Water in the Customer Hub, will impose indefinite or periodic bans:
- impose indefinite or periodic bans on participation in virtual, online meetings and teleconferences with Sydney Water management;
- on performing any work in the Sydney Water office that can be carried out at home;
- on working outside position descriptions or undertaking additional tasks, including performing as a FIFMP trainer or expediting FIFMP reviews;
- and will distribute, display and speak with media and the public with information approved by the Combined Water Unions about the nature and purpose of the protected industrial action, including installing or inserting posters and other information or material on Sydney Water Corp vehicles, property, uniforms and/or correspondence.
- will cover Sydney Water Corp logos on clothing and assets, including vehicles.
+Planners Business Unit, Work program Optimisation Unit and Integrated Works Unit
Commencing on 26 October 2023 and for an indefinite period, members of the ASU who are employed by Sydney Water in the Planners Business Unit, will impose indefinite or periodic bans:
- on the use of any Sydney Water Corp applications, including but not limited to fatigue app, BYOD, Whispers, pre start checks, CLICK, FRM, CATS, SCADA, with exceptions when driving heavy vehicles;
- on completing desk top estimates or customer impact statements
- on dispatching, other than P5/P6 faults or upgraded to P5 or P6
- on participation in virtual, online meetings and teleconferences with Sydney Water management;
- on performing any work in the Sydney Water office that can be carried out at home; and will
- distribute, display and speak with media and the public with information approved by the Combined Water Unions about the nature and purpose of the protected industrial action including installing or inserting posters and other information or material on Sydney Water Corp vehicles, property, uniforms and/or correspondence.