Members reject latest offer
17 November 2023
In a snap poll, union members have voted to reject the latest offer from Sydney Water management.
We have written this letter to Managing Director Roch Cheroux .
98% VOTE FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTION
In an overwhelming vote, workers have sent a clear message to Sydney Water management. It's time for a change.
Union members voted 98% in favour of the following 41 actions.
Stop Work
1. Taking 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
2. 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
3. Covering Sydney Water logos on clothing, and assets, including vehicles for an indefinite period or for indefinite periods of time
Hours and location of work
4. 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
5. 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
6. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on performing work at a Sydney Water Office location where work can be performed from home
7. 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
8. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on any participation in roster reviews or working or implementing any new rosters
9. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on moving float or swing shifts to cover planned or unplanned leave
Data and Technology
10. 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
11. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on data entry, including entering water quality data and field data into Scada Central
12. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on participation in virtual, online meetings and teleconferences with Sydney Water Management
13. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on receiving or signing off work orders by email
14. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on swiping on ID cards when driving SW vehicles
15. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on using personal resources, including phones and vehicles for Sydney Water purposes
16. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on taking or processing any work-related photography
Work Bans
17. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on processing Sundry Debtor notifications
18. 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
19. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on work shutdowns for contractors
20. 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
21. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on dispatching other than P5/P6 faults or upgraded to P5 or P6
22. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on completing desk top estimates or customer impact statements
23. 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
24. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on Sect 73 applications for development services and development partnerships in CG
25. 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
26. 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
27. 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
28. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on processing Operational Change Requests relating to reservoir inspections by diver or remote operated vehicle
29. Indefinite ban on processing Operational Change Requests relating to radial power outages where supply is maintained to site
30. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on processing Operational Change Requests relating Broderson RTU upgrades or installations
31. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on processing Operational Change Requests relating to trial shutdowns of SWC assets
32. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on processing planned Operational Change Requests for work involving new connections to Sydney Water networks
33. 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
34. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on the production, creation, maintenance or change of Power BI dashboards
35. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on members participating in Voluntary Demand Response activities or contractual ‘load shedding'
36. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on participating in Emergency Demand Reduction activities or NSW Government ‘load shedding'
37. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on additional recourse calls before shift commencement
38. 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
39.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 [ ] Yes [ ]
40. 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
41. An unlimited number of indefinite or periodic bans on Operational Change Requests for SOC Reviews without a minimum of 6 working days' notice