❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses redundancies at Verve Energy's Kwinana power station due to plant closures and market changes, inquiring about the reasons, numbers, and potential outsourcing of work.
AnsweredQoN 761Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
VERVE ENERGY — KWINANA POWER PLANT
(1) Can the minister confirm that workers are being made redundant at Verve Energy’s Kwinana power station? (2) If yes, why are these people losing their jobs, and how many will be or have been made redundant? (3) Is any of the work these workers are engaged in being outsourced to labour hire agencies; and, if so, which agencies are being engaged? Hon PETER COLLIER
(1) Can the minister confirm that workers are being made redundant at Verve Energy’s Kwinana power station? (2) If yes, why are these people losing their jobs, and how many will be or have been made redundant? (3) Is any of the work these workers are engaged in being outsourced to labour hire agencies; and, if so, which agencies are being engaged? Hon PETER COLLIER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. Before I commence, I wish to say that apparently the previous response I gave to Hon Kate Doust included domestic and international travel. I will correct that last question, ideally by the end of question time. (1) Yes. (2) Until 2009, Kwinana power station was a six-unit station. In early 2009, two of these units, stage B, reached the end of their life and were shut down. Part of the stage B site has since been utilised to build two new high-efficiency gas turbines. Another two units, stage A, are scheduled to close in the next month. With the closure of these four units, and given significant market-related changes to plant dispatch, Verve Energy management commenced discussions with employees and their union representatives in late 2009 to revise manning levels and work arrangements at the power station. To date, 26 employees have been made redundant at Kwinana power station. During September 2011, Verve Energy expects another 20 employees to be made redundant. Approximately eight more employees will be made redundant from October to December 2011. These employee reductions have been agreed after extensive consultation with employees and their union representatives. These reductions affect all areas of Kwinana power station, including management, maintenance, operations and support staff. However, particular attention has been paid to the retention of key technical and engineering capability. All redundancies to date have been voluntary. I am advised that Verve Energy expects the vast majority of future redundancies, if not all, to be voluntary. (3) Verve Energy expects no work previously performed by the redundant employees at Kwinana power station to be outsourced to labour hire agencies. In two smaller ancillary areas at Kwinana power station—coal plant operations and fire systems maintenance—some of the work previously performed by redundant employees will be undertaken in the future by third party contracting companies. This change has been agreed to by Verve Energy employees.
(2) If yes, why are these people losing their jobs, and how many will be or have been made redundant? (3) Is any of the work these workers are engaged in being outsourced to labour hire agencies; and, if so, which agencies are being engaged? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. Before I commence, I wish to say that apparently the previous response I gave to Hon Kate Doust included domestic and international travel. I will correct that last question, ideally by the end of question time. (1) Yes. (2) Until 2009, Kwinana power station was a six-unit station. In early 2009, two of these units, stage B, reached the end of their life and were shut down. Part of the stage B site has since been utilised to build two new high-efficiency gas turbines. Another two units, stage A, are scheduled to close in the next month. With the closure of these four units, and given significant market-related changes to plant dispatch, Verve Energy management commenced discussions with employees and their union representatives in late 2009 to revise manning levels and work arrangements at the power station. To date, 26 employees have been made redundant at Kwinana power station. During September 2011, Verve Energy expects another 20 employees to be made redundant. Approximately eight more employees will be made redundant from October to December 2011. These employee reductions have been agreed after extensive consultation with employees and their union representatives. These reductions affect all areas of Kwinana power station, including management, maintenance, operations and support staff. However, particular attention has been paid to the retention of key technical and engineering capability. All redundancies to date have been voluntary. I am advised that Verve Energy expects the vast majority of future redundancies, if not all, to be voluntary. (3) Verve Energy expects no work previously performed by the redundant employees at Kwinana power station to be outsourced to labour hire agencies. In two smaller ancillary areas at Kwinana power station—coal plant operations and fire systems maintenance—some of the work previously performed by redundant employees will be undertaken in the future by third party contracting companies. This change has been agreed to by Verve Energy employees.
(3) Is any of the work these workers are engaged in being outsourced to labour hire agencies; and, if so, which agencies are being engaged? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. Before I commence, I wish to say that apparently the previous response I gave to Hon Kate Doust included domestic and international travel. I will correct that last question, ideally by the end of question time. (1) Yes. (2) Until 2009, Kwinana power station was a six-unit station. In early 2009, two of these units, stage B, reached the end of their life and were shut down. Part of the stage B site has since been utilised to build two new high-efficiency gas turbines. Another two units, stage A, are scheduled to close in the next month. With the closure of these four units, and given significant market-related changes to plant dispatch, Verve Energy management commenced discussions with employees and their union representatives in late 2009 to revise manning levels and work arrangements at the power station. To date, 26 employees have been made redundant at Kwinana power station. During September 2011, Verve Energy expects another 20 employees to be made redundant. Approximately eight more employees will be made redundant from October to December 2011. These employee reductions have been agreed after extensive consultation with employees and their union representatives. These reductions affect all areas of Kwinana power station, including management, maintenance, operations and support staff. However, particular attention has been paid to the retention of key technical and engineering capability. All redundancies to date have been voluntary. I am advised that Verve Energy expects the vast majority of future redundancies, if not all, to be voluntary. (3) Verve Energy expects no work previously performed by the redundant employees at Kwinana power station to be outsourced to labour hire agencies. In two smaller ancillary areas at Kwinana power station—coal plant operations and fire systems maintenance—some of the work previously performed by redundant employees will be undertaken in the future by third party contracting companies. This change has been agreed to by Verve Energy employees.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. Before I commence, I wish to say that apparently the previous response I gave to Hon Kate Doust included domestic and international travel. I will correct that last question, ideally by the end of question time. (1) Yes. (2) Until 2009, Kwinana power station was a six-unit station. In early 2009, two of these units, stage B, reached the end of their life and were shut down. Part of the stage B site has since been utilised to build two new high-efficiency gas turbines. Another two units, stage A, are scheduled to close in the next month. With the closure of these four units, and given significant market-related changes to plant dispatch, Verve Energy management commenced discussions with employees and their union representatives in late 2009 to revise manning levels and work arrangements at the power station. To date, 26 employees have been made redundant at Kwinana power station. During September 2011, Verve Energy expects another 20 employees to be made redundant. Approximately eight more employees will be made redundant from October to December 2011. These employee reductions have been agreed after extensive consultation with employees and their union representatives. These reductions affect all areas of Kwinana power station, including management, maintenance, operations and support staff. However, particular attention has been paid to the retention of key technical and engineering capability. All redundancies to date have been voluntary. I am advised that Verve Energy expects the vast majority of future redundancies, if not all, to be voluntary. (3) Verve Energy expects no work previously performed by the redundant employees at Kwinana power station to be outsourced to labour hire agencies. In two smaller ancillary areas at Kwinana power station—coal plant operations and fire systems maintenance—some of the work previously performed by redundant employees will be undertaken in the future by third party contracting companies. This change has been agreed to by Verve Energy employees.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. Before I commence, I wish to say that apparently the previous response I gave to Hon Kate Doust included domestic and international travel. I will correct that last question, ideally by the end of question time. (1) Yes. (2) Until 2009, Kwinana power station was a six-unit station. In early 2009, two of these units, stage B, reached the end of their life and were shut down. Part of the stage B site has since been utilised to build two new high-efficiency gas turbines. Another two units, stage A, are scheduled to close in the next month. With the closure of these four units, and given significant market-related changes to plant dispatch, Verve Energy management commenced discussions with employees and their union representatives in late 2009 to revise manning levels and work arrangements at the power station. To date, 26 employees have been made redundant at Kwinana power station. During September 2011, Verve Energy expects another 20 employees to be made redundant. Approximately eight more employees will be made redundant from October to December 2011. These employee reductions have been agreed after extensive consultation with employees and their union representatives. These reductions affect all areas of Kwinana power station, including management, maintenance, operations and support staff. However, particular attention has been paid to the retention of key technical and engineering capability. All redundancies to date have been voluntary. I am advised that Verve Energy expects the vast majority of future redundancies, if not all, to be voluntary. (3) Verve Energy expects no work previously performed by the redundant employees at Kwinana power station to be outsourced to labour hire agencies. In two smaller ancillary areas at Kwinana power station—coal plant operations and fire systems maintenance—some of the work previously performed by redundant employees will be undertaken in the future by third party contracting companies. This change has been agreed to by Verve Energy employees.
Before I commence, I wish to say that apparently the previous response I gave to Hon Kate Doust included domestic and international travel. I will correct that last question, ideally by the end of question time. (1) Yes. (2) Until 2009, Kwinana power station was a six-unit station. In early 2009, two of these units, stage B, reached the end of their life and were shut down. Part of the stage B site has since been utilised to build two new high-efficiency gas turbines. Another two units, stage A, are scheduled to close in the next month. With the closure of these four units, and given significant market-related changes to plant dispatch, Verve Energy management commenced discussions with employees and their union representatives in late 2009 to revise manning levels and work arrangements at the power station. To date, 26 employees have been made redundant at Kwinana power station. During September 2011, Verve Energy expects another 20 employees to be made redundant. Approximately eight more employees will be made redundant from October to December 2011. These employee reductions have been agreed after extensive consultation with employees and their union representatives. These reductions affect all areas of Kwinana power station, including management, maintenance, operations and support staff. However, particular attention has been paid to the retention of key technical and engineering capability. All redundancies to date have been voluntary. I am advised that Verve Energy expects the vast majority of future redundancies, if not all, to be voluntary. (3) Verve Energy expects no work previously performed by the redundant employees at Kwinana power station to be outsourced to labour hire agencies. In two smaller ancillary areas at Kwinana power station—coal plant operations and fire systems maintenance—some of the work previously performed by redundant employees will be undertaken in the future by third party contracting companies. This change has been agreed to by Verve Energy employees.
(1) Yes. (2) Until 2009, Kwinana power station was a six-unit station. In early 2009, two of these units, stage B, reached the end of their life and were shut down. Part of the stage B site has since been utilised to build two new high-efficiency gas turbines. Another two units, stage A, are scheduled to close in the next month. With the closure of these four units, and given significant market-related changes to plant dispatch, Verve Energy management commenced discussions with employees and their union representatives in late 2009 to revise manning levels and work arrangements at the power station. To date, 26 employees have been made redundant at Kwinana power station. During September 2011, Verve Energy expects another 20 employees to be made redundant. Approximately eight more employees will be made redundant from October to December 2011. These employee reductions have been agreed after extensive consultation with employees and their union representatives. These reductions affect all areas of Kwinana power station, including management, maintenance, operations and support staff. However, particular attention has been paid to the retention of key technical and engineering capability. All redundancies to date have been voluntary. I am advised that Verve Energy expects the vast majority of future redundancies, if not all, to be voluntary. (3) Verve Energy expects no work previously performed by the redundant employees at Kwinana power station to be outsourced to labour hire agencies. In two smaller ancillary areas at Kwinana power station—coal plant operations and fire systems maintenance—some of the work previously performed by redundant employees will be undertaken in the future by third party contracting companies. This change has been agreed to by Verve Energy employees.
(2) Until 2009, Kwinana power station was a six-unit station. In early 2009, two of these units, stage B, reached the end of their life and were shut down. Part of the stage B site has since been utilised to build two new high-efficiency gas turbines. Another two units, stage A, are scheduled to close in the next month. With the closure of these four units, and given significant market-related changes to plant dispatch, Verve Energy management commenced discussions with employees and their union representatives in late 2009 to revise manning levels and work arrangements at the power station. To date, 26 employees have been made redundant at Kwinana power station. During September 2011, Verve Energy expects another 20 employees to be made redundant. Approximately eight more employees will be made redundant from October to December 2011. These employee reductions have been agreed after extensive consultation with employees and their union representatives. These reductions affect all areas of Kwinana power station, including management, maintenance, operations and support staff. However, particular attention has been paid to the retention of key technical and engineering capability. All redundancies to date have been voluntary. I am advised that Verve Energy expects the vast majority of future redundancies, if not all, to be voluntary. (3) Verve Energy expects no work previously performed by the redundant employees at Kwinana power station to be outsourced to labour hire agencies. In two smaller ancillary areas at Kwinana power station—coal plant operations and fire systems maintenance—some of the work previously performed by redundant employees will be undertaken in the future by third party contracting companies. This change has been agreed to by Verve Energy employees.
(3) Verve Energy expects no work previously performed by the redundant employees at Kwinana power station to be outsourced to labour hire agencies. In two smaller ancillary areas at Kwinana power station—coal plant operations and fire systems maintenance—some of the work previously performed by redundant employees will be undertaken in the future by third party contracting companies. This change has been agreed to by Verve Energy employees.
(2) If yes, why are these people losing their jobs, and how many will be or have been made redundant? (3) Is any of the work these workers are engaged in being outsourced to labour hire agencies; and, if so, which agencies are being engaged? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. Before I commence, I wish to say that apparently the previous response I gave to Hon Kate Doust included domestic and international travel. I will correct that last question, ideally by the end of question time. (1) Yes. (2) Until 2009, Kwinana power station was a six-unit station. In early 2009, two of these units, stage B, reached the end of their life and were shut down. Part of the stage B site has since been utilised to build two new high-efficiency gas turbines. Another two units, stage A, are scheduled to close in the next month. With the closure of these four units, and given significant market-related changes to plant dispatch, Verve Energy management commenced discussions with employees and their union representatives in late 2009 to revise manning levels and work arrangements at the power station. To date, 26 employees have been made redundant at Kwinana power station. During September 2011, Verve Energy expects another 20 employees to be made redundant. Approximately eight more employees will be made redundant from October to December 2011. These employee reductions have been agreed after extensive consultation with employees and their union representatives. These reductions affect all areas of Kwinana power station, including management, maintenance, operations and support staff. However, particular attention has been paid to the retention of key technical and engineering capability. All redundancies to date have been voluntary. I am advised that Verve Energy expects the vast majority of future redundancies, if not all, to be voluntary. (3) Verve Energy expects no work previously performed by the redundant employees at Kwinana power station to be outsourced to labour hire agencies. In two smaller ancillary areas at Kwinana power station—coal plant operations and fire systems maintenance—some of the work previously performed by redundant employees will be undertaken in the future by third party contracting companies. This change has been agreed to by Verve Energy employees.
(3) Is any of the work these workers are engaged in being outsourced to labour hire agencies; and, if so, which agencies are being engaged? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. Before I commence, I wish to say that apparently the previous response I gave to Hon Kate Doust included domestic and international travel. I will correct that last question, ideally by the end of question time. (1) Yes. (2) Until 2009, Kwinana power station was a six-unit station. In early 2009, two of these units, stage B, reached the end of their life and were shut down. Part of the stage B site has since been utilised to build two new high-efficiency gas turbines. Another two units, stage A, are scheduled to close in the next month. With the closure of these four units, and given significant market-related changes to plant dispatch, Verve Energy management commenced discussions with employees and their union representatives in late 2009 to revise manning levels and work arrangements at the power station. To date, 26 employees have been made redundant at Kwinana power station. During September 2011, Verve Energy expects another 20 employees to be made redundant. Approximately eight more employees will be made redundant from October to December 2011. These employee reductions have been agreed after extensive consultation with employees and their union representatives. These reductions affect all areas of Kwinana power station, including management, maintenance, operations and support staff. However, particular attention has been paid to the retention of key technical and engineering capability. All redundancies to date have been voluntary. I am advised that Verve Energy expects the vast majority of future redundancies, if not all, to be voluntary. (3) Verve Energy expects no work previously performed by the redundant employees at Kwinana power station to be outsourced to labour hire agencies. In two smaller ancillary areas at Kwinana power station—coal plant operations and fire systems maintenance—some of the work previously performed by redundant employees will be undertaken in the future by third party contracting companies. This change has been agreed to by Verve Energy employees.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. Before I commence, I wish to say that apparently the previous response I gave to Hon Kate Doust included domestic and international travel. I will correct that last question, ideally by the end of question time. (1) Yes. (2) Until 2009, Kwinana power station was a six-unit station. In early 2009, two of these units, stage B, reached the end of their life and were shut down. Part of the stage B site has since been utilised to build two new high-efficiency gas turbines. Another two units, stage A, are scheduled to close in the next month. With the closure of these four units, and given significant market-related changes to plant dispatch, Verve Energy management commenced discussions with employees and their union representatives in late 2009 to revise manning levels and work arrangements at the power station. To date, 26 employees have been made redundant at Kwinana power station. During September 2011, Verve Energy expects another 20 employees to be made redundant. Approximately eight more employees will be made redundant from October to December 2011. These employee reductions have been agreed after extensive consultation with employees and their union representatives. These reductions affect all areas of Kwinana power station, including management, maintenance, operations and support staff. However, particular attention has been paid to the retention of key technical and engineering capability. All redundancies to date have been voluntary. I am advised that Verve Energy expects the vast majority of future redundancies, if not all, to be voluntary. (3) Verve Energy expects no work previously performed by the redundant employees at Kwinana power station to be outsourced to labour hire agencies. In two smaller ancillary areas at Kwinana power station—coal plant operations and fire systems maintenance—some of the work previously performed by redundant employees will be undertaken in the future by third party contracting companies. This change has been agreed to by Verve Energy employees.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. Before I commence, I wish to say that apparently the previous response I gave to Hon Kate Doust included domestic and international travel. I will correct that last question, ideally by the end of question time. (1) Yes. (2) Until 2009, Kwinana power station was a six-unit station. In early 2009, two of these units, stage B, reached the end of their life and were shut down. Part of the stage B site has since been utilised to build two new high-efficiency gas turbines. Another two units, stage A, are scheduled to close in the next month. With the closure of these four units, and given significant market-related changes to plant dispatch, Verve Energy management commenced discussions with employees and their union representatives in late 2009 to revise manning levels and work arrangements at the power station. To date, 26 employees have been made redundant at Kwinana power station. During September 2011, Verve Energy expects another 20 employees to be made redundant. Approximately eight more employees will be made redundant from October to December 2011. These employee reductions have been agreed after extensive consultation with employees and their union representatives. These reductions affect all areas of Kwinana power station, including management, maintenance, operations and support staff. However, particular attention has been paid to the retention of key technical and engineering capability. All redundancies to date have been voluntary. I am advised that Verve Energy expects the vast majority of future redundancies, if not all, to be voluntary. (3) Verve Energy expects no work previously performed by the redundant employees at Kwinana power station to be outsourced to labour hire agencies. In two smaller ancillary areas at Kwinana power station—coal plant operations and fire systems maintenance—some of the work previously performed by redundant employees will be undertaken in the future by third party contracting companies. This change has been agreed to by Verve Energy employees.
Before I commence, I wish to say that apparently the previous response I gave to Hon Kate Doust included domestic and international travel. I will correct that last question, ideally by the end of question time. (1) Yes. (2) Until 2009, Kwinana power station was a six-unit station. In early 2009, two of these units, stage B, reached the end of their life and were shut down. Part of the stage B site has since been utilised to build two new high-efficiency gas turbines. Another two units, stage A, are scheduled to close in the next month. With the closure of these four units, and given significant market-related changes to plant dispatch, Verve Energy management commenced discussions with employees and their union representatives in late 2009 to revise manning levels and work arrangements at the power station. To date, 26 employees have been made redundant at Kwinana power station. During September 2011, Verve Energy expects another 20 employees to be made redundant. Approximately eight more employees will be made redundant from October to December 2011. These employee reductions have been agreed after extensive consultation with employees and their union representatives. These reductions affect all areas of Kwinana power station, including management, maintenance, operations and support staff. However, particular attention has been paid to the retention of key technical and engineering capability. All redundancies to date have been voluntary. I am advised that Verve Energy expects the vast majority of future redundancies, if not all, to be voluntary. (3) Verve Energy expects no work previously performed by the redundant employees at Kwinana power station to be outsourced to labour hire agencies. In two smaller ancillary areas at Kwinana power station—coal plant operations and fire systems maintenance—some of the work previously performed by redundant employees will be undertaken in the future by third party contracting companies. This change has been agreed to by Verve Energy employees.
(1) Yes. (2) Until 2009, Kwinana power station was a six-unit station. In early 2009, two of these units, stage B, reached the end of their life and were shut down. Part of the stage B site has since been utilised to build two new high-efficiency gas turbines. Another two units, stage A, are scheduled to close in the next month. With the closure of these four units, and given significant market-related changes to plant dispatch, Verve Energy management commenced discussions with employees and their union representatives in late 2009 to revise manning levels and work arrangements at the power station. To date, 26 employees have been made redundant at Kwinana power station. During September 2011, Verve Energy expects another 20 employees to be made redundant. Approximately eight more employees will be made redundant from October to December 2011. These employee reductions have been agreed after extensive consultation with employees and their union representatives. These reductions affect all areas of Kwinana power station, including management, maintenance, operations and support staff. However, particular attention has been paid to the retention of key technical and engineering capability. All redundancies to date have been voluntary. I am advised that Verve Energy expects the vast majority of future redundancies, if not all, to be voluntary. (3) Verve Energy expects no work previously performed by the redundant employees at Kwinana power station to be outsourced to labour hire agencies. In two smaller ancillary areas at Kwinana power station—coal plant operations and fire systems maintenance—some of the work previously performed by redundant employees will be undertaken in the future by third party contracting companies. This change has been agreed to by Verve Energy employees.
(2) Until 2009, Kwinana power station was a six-unit station. In early 2009, two of these units, stage B, reached the end of their life and were shut down. Part of the stage B site has since been utilised to build two new high-efficiency gas turbines. Another two units, stage A, are scheduled to close in the next month. With the closure of these four units, and given significant market-related changes to plant dispatch, Verve Energy management commenced discussions with employees and their union representatives in late 2009 to revise manning levels and work arrangements at the power station. To date, 26 employees have been made redundant at Kwinana power station. During September 2011, Verve Energy expects another 20 employees to be made redundant. Approximately eight more employees will be made redundant from October to December 2011. These employee reductions have been agreed after extensive consultation with employees and their union representatives. These reductions affect all areas of Kwinana power station, including management, maintenance, operations and support staff. However, particular attention has been paid to the retention of key technical and engineering capability. All redundancies to date have been voluntary. I am advised that Verve Energy expects the vast majority of future redundancies, if not all, to be voluntary. (3) Verve Energy expects no work previously performed by the redundant employees at Kwinana power station to be outsourced to labour hire agencies. In two smaller ancillary areas at Kwinana power station—coal plant operations and fire systems maintenance—some of the work previously performed by redundant employees will be undertaken in the future by third party contracting companies. This change has been agreed to by Verve Energy employees.
(3) Verve Energy expects no work previously performed by the redundant employees at Kwinana power station to be outsourced to labour hire agencies. In two smaller ancillary areas at Kwinana power station—coal plant operations and fire systems maintenance—some of the work previously performed by redundant employees will be undertaken in the future by third party contracting companies. This change has been agreed to by Verve Energy employees.
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