NSW take action!

Over the last few months, AWU members at Snowy Hydro 2.0 have shown incredible strength and solidarity in the fight for fair wages and safer working conditions. This is some of the hardest work in the country. 12 hour shifts underground, weeks away from home, and camp conditions that no worker should have to put up with. Just months ago, an exploding ventilation fan sent metal shards flying across the site – putting workers at serious risk of injury or even death.

To make matters worse, when the AWU negotiated the Snowy Hydro enterprise agreement in 2021, our members were the highest paid in the industry. But fast forward four years of inflation and lagging wages from a long-term Coalition government, workers are being paid thousands below industry standard for major tunnelling projects.

Following an unacceptable offer from company management our members stood together and walked off the job. Our message was clear: we are not second-class workers, and we won’t accept second-rate conditions. As negotiations continue to progress, the AWU will keep backing them in every step of the way.

Meanwhile, the NSW Labor Government has tried to ram through cuts to workers compensation. These changes would make it nearly impossible for injured workers to claim support and compensation. In particular, the Government wants to raise the WPI threshold to 31% – the highest of any state or territory.

That’s a bar so high it will shut out nearly everyone.This Government is sending a dangerous message to injured workers: you’re on your own.

But we fought back. The AWU joined unionists from across the state in Martin Place, Sydney, to call on NSW Premier, Chris Minns and Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, to do the right thing – to put workers’ health above their bottom line.

We’re proud to support Labor when they stand up for workers. But we won’t give them a free pass when they get it wrong.

Cutting off injured workers, especially those suffering trauma or mental injury, is not reform. It’s cruel.

The AWU fought against unfair workers compensation laws when they were introduced by the Coalition a decade ago, and we’ll fight them again – no matter who’s in power. Our message to the government is simple: if you’re serious about mental health, then back it up with real support. Don’t force injured workers to fall through the cracks.

Because of our campaign, the Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 has been referred to a parliamentary inquiry. These laws would’ve ended lives, and we’re proud to have helped stop them in their tracks – for now.