Global Power Trade Unions (GPTU) Conference 2024
Power unions from across the globe gathered in Stockholm for the 2024 Global Power Trade Unions Conference. The ETU was strongly represented with a delegation including National Secretary Michael Wright, Qld/ NT and NSW/ACT Branch Secretaries Peter Ong and Allen Hicks, ETU National Women’s Officer Raven Maris, and ETU National Apprentice of the year 2023, Zahn Anthony.
What became clear through the conference is that, despite the many different circumstances around the globe, some things remain the same. Employers cutting corners, governments deregulating, and a massive skills shortage. The global energy transition is placing unprecedented strain on power industries and workers across the globe but is also creating unprecedented opportunities.
ETU National Secretary Michael Wright reported on the state of the global energy transition and these enormous workforce shortages and reinforced that skilled migration cannot be Australia’s solution – we need to skill our own.
“The GPTU is an invaluable opportunity for power trade unions from all over the world to both share our victories and help each other to problem solve for our respective struggles, many of which are remarkably similar in all corners of the globe. To have had the opportunity to connect with likeminded people, gain a broader perspective on the electrical industry, learn how unions from other nations operate is more meaningful than I can possibly express. It was an honour to represent Australian electrical industry apprentices at the GPTU Congress 2024 and is something I will forever carry with me.” ETU National Apprentice of the Year 2023, Zahn Anthony
There is a major risk that all the electrification work required to power the transition could be done by unlicensed and underkilled workers, unless we ensure that there is proper investment in skills and training to train up the hundreds of thousands qualified electrical trades workers needed to take up these jobs to meet our global transition targets.
ETU NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Allen Hicks addressed the conference and spoke to the need to improve licensing standards across the globe, in particular with the transmission buildout. At such a crucial time for our trades, we cannot afford standards slipping and must defend our trades, skills and standards.
“As electricians we bargain with companies that operate globally and ensuring that as unions, we communicate to work together to protect workers rights and conditions on a global level is vital as we move towards a renewable future. We face a global skills shortage and in my capacity as the National Officer for Women I was privileged to attend the youth meeting at the GTPU. From that meeting we set goals around the promotion of the union movement to the younger generations of electrical workers and encouraging more female participation our trades going forward.” ETU National Women’s Officer, Raven Maris
Vasyl Andreyev, President of PROFBUD – the Construction and Building Materials Workers Union of Ukraine – reported on the immense challenges facing workers in the Ukraine. Linnea Wikström, Global Director of Construction and Health & Safety at Building and Woodworkers International, reported on projects to minimise asbestos exposure resulting from the Russian shelling of Ukrainian buildings. Even in a warzone, worker and community health and safety can’t be simply written off.