Bracks threatened the workers with individual fines of up to $A10,000 and Yallourn Energy, which had rejected a mediated settlement that morning after three days of talks, with a fine of up to $A1 million. But Yallourn Energy chief executive Michael Johnston said he was "very pleased that the government has taken the action it has." The order remains in effect for four weeks.

Workers at other power stations in the valley had been considering solidarity strikes to begin later in the week.

The plant generates 20 percent of Victoria's electricity. About 500 workers belonging to six unions walked out January 10 in the face of company demands for an unfettered right to outsource maintenance work to nonunion contractors.

In a move to turn public opinion against the workers, rolling blackouts were imposed by the state government February 3 as summer temperatures soared. Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, was also affected because it purchases power from the Victorian grid. Bracks then imposed power restrictions on homes and businesses from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on February 4 and February 7-9. That the restrictions were part of a political campaign became clear when--despite estimates of anywhere from three days to two weeks for the plant to return to full power--Bracks indicated they would be lifted after February 9. "I think we have got a good case to lift restrictions on Wednesday even with Yallourn down," he said.

The decision to impose rolling blackouts February 3 was used to pit workers and farmers against each other. In a February 7 Melbourne Age article entitled "Power cuts hit dairy farmers hard," Peter Walsh, president of the Victorian Farmers Federation, an organization that speaks for both capitalist and working farmers, used the specter of "animal welfare" to back government intervention. Yet Max Fehring, president of United Dairy Farmers of Victoria, admitted, "The state government showed little consideration for farmers.... The [February 3] cuts came in between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.--peak milking time. There was little or no warning to farmers."

Doug Cooper is a member of the Maritime Union of Australia.  
 
 
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