Billboards highlight 'no need' for Ergon job cuts - ABC Online

By Rhianwen Whitney

Posted December 04, 2012 11:34:39

The Electrical Trade Union (ETU) says it is using billboards to target southern Queensland MPs in Toowoomba over their lack of action to prevent Ergon Energy job cuts.

Earlier this year, the regional electricity supplier announced it would cut 500 jobs across the state.

The ETU officially launched its 'not4sale' campaign yesterday, with plans for three billboards to go up in Toowoomba.

ETU spokesman Dan McGaw says the campaign is also about increasing public awareness of the issue.

"The job cuts are unnecessary, especially coming into storm season," he said.

"The maintenance levels on the network at moment are just there at the moment, once the storm comes through the network won't cope.

"We want the public to be aware that there is no need for this and we want to make these politicians accountable."

Mr McGaw says it has been left in the dark about the planned cuts.

"It's been all 'secret squirrel' business so far," he said.

"Pretty much all the documents we've received have been handed to us under the table."

Topics: activism-and-lobbying, public-sector, unions, community-development, regional, toowoomba-4350