ETU shows global solidarity

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.

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.

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.

The GPTU Conference was addressed by Jade Ingham, former National President of the CFMEU C&G. After hearing Jade’s presentation. The Conference unanimously passed a resolution condemning the legislated administration of the CFMEU.  Unions from around the world are now writing to the Australian government, and their own governments, expressing their outrage.

These are times of unprecedented change for our industries globally, only with organised labour can we build the future that we deserve.

This article was publised on 3 November 2024.