ETU 'can't rule out' TransGrid strike ahead of $5 billion Humelink and EnergyConnect power projects

Electrical Trades Union (ETU) representatives met with workers for power grid operator TransGrid at its Wagga region complex on Friday morning as part of a state-wide campaign for a 3 per cent pay rise.

ETU NSW branch deputy secretary Allen Hicks said the workers who built and maintained the state's high voltage infrastructure deserved a pay rise due to the rising cost of living in the Riverina and the time they had to spend away from home.

"We had a meeting with our members about the offer that TransGrid has put on the table for the next three years for their wages and conditions and the ETU says it's a substandard offer," Mr Hicks said.

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"TransGrid are offering 2 per cent per year and they are basically not offering the flow-on from the legislated superannuation increases, they are asking employees to absorb that, so really it's a 1.5 per cent offer, and that's well below industry standards.

"It doesn't recognise and reward these employees for the great work that they do and we want the company to come back to the table with a more reasonable offer."

TransGrid is due later this year to start works on the $1.9 billion EnergyConnect project for a 330-volt transmission line running nearly 900 kilometres from Wagga to Robertstown in South Australia.

Next year TransGrid is also scheduled to start work on a $2.1 billion HumeLink transmission line between Wagga and the Snowy Hydro scheme that will carry 500 kilovolts.

Mr Hicks said the dispute "has absolutely got the potential" to affect TransGrid's major projects in the Riverina and Snowy Valleys.

The ETU is urging members to vote against accepting TransGrid's current offer.

Mr Hicks said he could not rule out industrial action if TransGrid did not respond after a series of union meetings across NSW this week.

"We will go back to the company next week after we can disclose to them the outcomes of these meetings. If they are still in the position that they are at and they are not prepared to move then obviously workers have a right to apply to Fair Work Commission for a protected action ballot," Mr Hicks said.

"If that ballot gets up then workers could choose to take protected industrial action to try to advance their claims.

"I'm not suggesting we are going to do that at this stage but I'm not ruling it out either. We are going to do everything we possibly can to get this company to do the right thing by their workers."

TransGrid was contacted for comment about the ETU meeting, including the union's claim that workers were being asked to take on some of the burden for increased superannuation contributions.

A TransGrid spokesperson responded with a brief statement that said "We value our people and their contributions and we are continuing to talk to them about a fair pay rise."

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