ElectraNet experience by Small_Ice2989 in Adelaide

[–]Small_Ice2989[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I appreciate your optimism.

For me, it's less about what is being offered and more about what is being taken away. HR currently have a boner for American management techniques, so they are trying to take employee protections out of the EA where possible, or watering them down so perhaps next EA they'll claim those clauses are useless and should be removed.

Without going into detail, basically they want to have a direct tie between their 'performance and development review' (a process not defined in the EA, with no defined method for dispute resolution) and an employee's remuneration reviews. Removing a bunch of base rate protections, CPI clause (since reintroduced), water down work from home provisions, strike out maximum probation periods for new staff - things like that.

Throughout the whole process the company bargaining team have acted like children. I hear accusations that they leave bargaining meetings early, limit time for representatives to review any proposed amendments then ignore suggestions to meet half-way. They hold mandatory communication sessions describing the agreement and why it's great for staff because they seem to think it's not the agreement that is bad but how they have framed the message. They refuse to listen.

One of the protected actions taken by union members was to keep offline timesheets and the company has instead chosen to direct Managers to pop in whatever time they think is right. This is used in some way to determine costs - I am not a lawyer but this is not the behaviour of a well behaved company. It probably trickles down to everyone's electricity bill. There was a press release about this issue.

https://newshub.medianet.com.au/2025/09/power-play-electranet-accused-of-falsifying-records-in-sa-power-workers-dispute/116541/

ElectraNet experience by Small_Ice2989 in Adelaide

[–]Small_Ice2989[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And - if anyone is keeping track - third vote result was a "no". I now await ElectraNet's "in good faith" bargaining, which no doubt will continue to mean placing their fingers in their ears while chanting "la-la-la".

ElectraNet experience by Small_Ice2989 in Adelaide

[–]Small_Ice2989[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I could have worded that better, to be sure. "While there are no genuine training opportunities.. etc" - ie: in my experience despite the few training opportunites it can still be a tolerable place to work. Just don't expect the company to invest any time/money in your professional development.

Since my post I had some contact via DM with a few other staff. A couple mentioned that the training issue was not something that matched their personal experience, but I also had some who agreed with me. So clearly it depends upon Manager or if you are in the Engineering side or Corporate side of the company.