Union members at the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) are intensifying industrial action as negotiations over wages and working conditions continue. Starting Tuesday, members of Professionals Australia, representing engineers, scientists, technology analysts, and managers, plan to initiate indefinite bans on approving non-critical planned outages and processing non-essential software and system upgrades. Although software development will continue, delays in non-critical work are expected.
The union’s demands include wage increases indexed to inflation, the ability to work a four-day week without loss of pay or hours, and protections against the increasing use of artificial intelligence. Professionals Australia energy director Robert Coluccio said that union members had rejected three offers from AEMO and are seeking fair compensation that reflects the cost of living alongside safeguards related to AI, as well as maintaining flexible working arrangements already in place. “AEMO relies on the skills and expertise of Professionals Australia members and can afford to put forward an offer that doesn’t fall behind inflation, even if it means a little less in the way of executive bonuses,” Coluccio said.
AEMO has submitted a bargaining application to the Fair Work Commission, with hearings set for Monday. The organisation noted that Professionals Australia members represent about 5 percent of its workforce and described the new industrial actions as more directly affecting operational, technology, and industry-facing functions compared to previous actions focused on meetings and administrative processes.
An AEMO spokesman emphasized the organisation’s commitment to securing an enterprise agreement offering “strong and certain wage growth” alongside sustainable employee benefits benchmarked against the industry. The spokesman also highlighted that AEMO is considering regulatory and legal options under the Fair Work Act to mitigate risks to public health, safety, and economic stability stemming from the industrial action.
As a not-for-profit entity, AEMO stated that its costs are ultimately passed onto consumers and cautioned against disruptions that could increase energy prices or compromise service reliability. Australian Services Union members at AEMO are also preparing to vote on protected industrial action.
The union stressed that its members remain committed to public safety amid the dispute. Workers at AEMO play a critical role in managing electricity and gas supply systems nationwide, overseeing real-time demand matching, control room operations, market functions, grid security monitoring, network outage management, and the integration of critical infrastructure and energy projects. AEMO has indicated it is implementing contingency plans to ensure continued reliable market and system operations during the industrial action.