AGL Loy Yang will challenge the CFMEU’s second Protection Action Ballot Order (PABO) application after the union lodged a new PABO on Thursday, 26 May.

The CFMEU had its first application dismissed by the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) earlier this month.

AGL Loy Yang General Manager Steve Rieniets said he was extremely disappointed that the CFMEU has signaled its intention to take industrial action again, particularly as there was a conciliation process currently underway with the FWC.

“Industrial action has the potential to place our power station and Victoria’s energy security at risk.

“We urge the CFMEU to drop their application and instead commit to the conciliation process currently in progress, Mr Rieniets said.

The new application means CFMEU members at AGL Loy Yang will be required to vote on proposed industrial action identical to its previous application:

• An unlimited number of stoppages of work for a period of between one and 24 hours.
• An unlimited number of bans of one or more hours on the operation of one or more power station units.

“AGL Loy Yang has given genuine consideration to the CFMEU’s claims however we are not prepared to accept claims that add unnecessary costs, reduce productivity or further restrict how we run the business.

“We want to make sure AGL Loy Yang continues to operate productively well into the future. However, accepting further inefficiencies and increased costs without productivity offsets would add unnecessary pressure on our ability to operate the power station sustainably for the remainder of its life,” Mr Rieniets said.

AGL Loy Yang will challenge the PABO application and seek to have the notice period for protected industrial action extended from four days to seven days.

The PABO hearing is listed for 9.30am on Tuesday 7 June 2016 at the Fair Work Commission before Deputy President Clancy, 11 Exhibition Street, Melbourne.

In December, the AGL Loy Yang workforce rejected a proposed four-year enterprise agreement including 21.5 percent pay increases.

About AGL

AGL is one of Australia’s leading integrated energy companies. It is taking action to responsibly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions while providing secure and affordable energy to its customers. Drawing on over 175 years of experience, AGL serves its customers throughout eastern Australia with meeting their energy requirements, including gas, electricity, solar PV and related products and services. AGL has a diverse power generation portfolio including base, peaking and intermediate generation plants, spread across traditional thermal generation as well as renewable sources including hydro, wind, solar, landfill gas and biomass.