Collective bargaining undermined: energy market operator breaks off negotiations for a new bargaining agreement

On 6 July 2021, the Australian Services Union (ASU) reported that the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) had broken off negotiations with it and was trying to rush through a sub-standard enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA). The ASU had several concerns about the proposed EBA, including the below-inflation pay “increase” and the risk that many employees would no longer be protected by the agreement. The scope of the new EBA meant that staff could be taken off it if they were promoted or transferred within the company.