The Australian Services Union says it is experiencing a surge in membership from Western Power workers concerned about their jobs.

The Union’s assistant branch secretary Jill Hugo says hundreds of extra members have signed up, largely due to a major restructure at the energy utility.

Western Power says the changes are about moving more of its staff into frontline roles, with most of the slated job cuts in middle management.

Mrs Hugo described a meeting the union had yesterday with Western Power CEO Paul Italiano as constructive, saying they were told the utility is about half way through the restructure.

“People are worried, they obviously are worried, the human factor here is that you know people have mortgages and bills to pay and that doesn’t go away just because this process is being engaged in,” she said.