A UNION official has called on National party members to stand up and defend their communities or resign over the loss of 1400 Essential Energy employees.
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Their future employment is still in doubt with the government agency not confirming where job losses may occur.
Essential Energy is also proposing a two year wage-freeze for 203 apprentices.
It follows a decision by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) to restrict the levies charged by networks, Essential Energy confirmed it could not afford 1400 employees.
Communications Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) assistant secretary Neville Betts called the job cuts “absolutely disgraceful” and a slap in the face to regional people.
“It’s a slap in the face to regional NSW.”
Mr Betts asked where the National party members who promised certainty for workers as the state government had taken an electricity network lease to the election, had gone.
“If the Nationals don’t stand up and defend their constituents, they should resign,” Mr Betts said.
Mr Betts said the job cuts could potentially see people leave communities in search of new work, which would have a knock-on affect to schools and businesses.
Member for Cootamundra Katrina Hodgkinson said the Nationals had called for the AER to restrict job losses.
“The NSW Nationals welcome significant savings in energy bills but will continue to work on minimising job losses in regional NSW,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
Ms Hodgkinson said the Nationals were the only major party which had pushed for a decision from the AER that minimised job losses.
“It is premature to discuss the potential job outcomes at this early stage.”
