A union stoush has forced Alice Springs power stations to run on diesel. 

Two of Alice Springs' power stations that normally run on gas have been burning backup diesel intermittently since November due to protected industrial action by the Electrical Trades Union (ETU). It is estimated that approximately 2 million litres of diesel has been used while bargaining continues. 

Territory Generation - the operator of the Ron Goodin and Owen Springs power stations - says the stoush will not increase power bills.

Union workers have refused to reset the stations back to gas, leaving them running constantly on diesel.

The unions want their hours reduced from 37.5 to 36 hours a week, an increase in annual leave from five to six weeks, more staff employed and more staff given the ability to make management decisions.

The government has offered a 2 per cent increase plus backpay, but declined three days extra leave, saying they want to translate it to an extra 1 per cent pay.

Electrical Trades Union NT organiser David Hayes says the government has not met the union’s demands. 

“It's the most inefficient bargaining process I've ever seen,” he said.

“We're just dumbfounded about the lack of urgency … to want to get this deal done.

“People don't want to burn fuel unnecessarily.

“We're using bans that we see can have the effect to try and get the right people to the table, but not disrupt the public.”

Mr Hayes says the union wants an increase of more than 4 per cent to address cost-of-living pressures.

“We are looking at an overall package that can attract and retain experienced operators or trades people to the NT,” he said.

NT Public Employment Minister Paul Kirby - a former ETU NT organiser - says that progress has been made on a number of key enterprise agreements since a wages policy change in October.

“The Commissioner for Public Employment has informed me we are very deep into negotiations with Territory Generation and we are very close to making an offer to the bargaining unit,’ he said.

“We thank the union for negotiating and we respect our hardworking Territory Generation staff and the critical role they play in keeping the lights on.