6 September 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/28
This week: TZV Support staff EBA meeting and report on negotiations.
We analyse the Telstra Outage report.
And we report on the Optus Retail Agreement.
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30 August 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/28
This week: Vale Garry Newbery and a survey on workplace surveillance.
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23 August 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/27
The FWC has handed down the Decision in the HFC Case. We won.
Telstra has already said that they would appeal. We also report on Superannuation policy.
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16 August 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/26
We report on TZV Support negotiations and NBN structure issues.
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9 August 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/25
This week: TZV EBA difficult negotiations.
More Telstra Redundancies, Telstra Optical Fibre
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2 August 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/24
This week read about GPS and speeding report errors. And reports on
Optus Retail and BAI EBA.
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26 July 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/23
Reports on TZV negotiations, weaponizing of GPS driving data and the NBN Start of Day case.
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20 July 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/22
Notice of Annual General Meeting
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19 July 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/21
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12 July 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/20
The Optus Retail EBA is moving to a vote, while the BAI EBA is meeting difficulties.
As for Telstra, one outage looks like an accident - but two?
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5 July 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/19
A short bulletin this week with reports on the TZV Support EBA,
and our views on two topics - when an RDO falls on a Public Holiday
and the interaction between "on call" and Zero tolerance.
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28 June 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/18
This week we report on some workers' compensation issues in NBN and Optus Retail.
We also have short reports on the Optus Retail EBA and the NBN SOD case.
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21 June 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/17
We post our ORPD statement this week. We also report on a number of structural changes in Telstra
and a new disciplinary process in Aus Post.
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14 June 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/16
Our Bulletins are now back. We report on a number of matters including
temporary management arrangements, the National Wage Case, the sale of Optus,
and the Telstra response to the Optical Fibre Claim.
We also report on the TZV Support EBA, the NBN SOD case and the HFC Case.
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3 May 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/15
There will be a pause to the regular bulletins fro about 5 weeks. Special bulletins
may be issued for more urgent matters.
We report on an unsuccessful unfair dismissal involving redundancy.
There are items on Telstra 000 Sydney and Telstra resignations.
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26 April 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/14
Reports include Telstra Fibre claim, Versant redundancies,
TZV Support EBA developments and Union Shopper offers.
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19 April 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/13
The important NBN case re SOD adjourned.
Optus has more redundancies. A mileage rate claim.
And Telstra Job Family must go!
We report on the Optus Retail EBA and Log of Claims.
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12 April 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/12
The important NBN case re SOD is adjourned.
We also report fuel costs and the presentation of life membership to Lee Walkington.
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6 April 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/11
We report on the memorial for Paul Lightfoot.
We seek responses on the issue of an RDO falling on a Public Holiday
We seek input from BAI members re their EBA.
The important NBN case re SOD is set for hearing this week.
We also report on developments with junior wage rates and the National Wage Case.
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29 March 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/10
This week reports on the NBN SOD case, the National Wage Case, Royal Mail targets and
Telstra outsourcing to Infosys
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22 March 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/09
A reminder advising of urgent meetings with NBN members over a SOD offer
and TZV members re the Support staff structure.
Also we seek feedback on the Optus Retail EBA and TPG EBA Log of Claims.
We also report on concerns about use of a Bell curve in Optus..
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19 March 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/08
A special bulletin advising of urgent meetings NBN members over a SOD offer
and TZV members re the Support staff structure.
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15 March 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/07
Another long bulletin. We won one dismissal case, and lost a second.
We report on these on these - involving genuine redundancy and inherent requirements of a job.
We are commencing negotiations on the Optus Retail EBA and the TPG EBA.
We have reports on Telstra redundancies, MyDay, Post Canberra and
advice on overpayments in Aus Post.
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8 March 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/06
We have been very busy over the past few weeks with a number of legal
matters arising at the same time. Bulletins were put on hold as weekends
were needed to prepare for three FWC hearings.
And we have more hearings ahead. See the reports below
This week we catch up with reports on Telstra Redundancies, Optus redundancies,
Telstra Medical Declarations, TZV Support EBA, NBN SOD Case, Unfair Dismissals in TZV
and the Telstra HFC Case.
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15 February 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/05
This week: NBN SOD, NBN Reviews, TZV Support EBA, Telstra offshoring gamble
and Unions are for workers.
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08 February 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/04
We report on a new bullying problem in NBN - now resolved following our intervention.
We also report on a trial of Seeking Machines in Telstra.
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01 February 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/03
We explain briefly the role of the support person in this Bulletin.
We also have short reports on Telstra Optical Fibre, NBN issues
and new membership fees.
We also report on an interesting "out of time" unfair dismissal matter
involving Aus Post.
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25 January 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/02
This week we report on the Decision in the TZV Casual Clothing Case.
The Commission rejected our argument that a long standing practice
of over 30 years was not sufficient to stop management prerogative.
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18 January 2026 - BULLETIN 2026/01
Welcome back - and a list of our matters before the FWC and Courts as we
start the year. Please do not call us if you are not a member.
We congratulate Paul Lightfoot, our newest life member.
We report on the Optus outage - and the threat to sack staff.
Telstra has withdrawn their controversial 'Declaration of Understanding".
And recommended reading - USA Unions react.
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Paul Lightfoot
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2025 Year in Review - Some Highlights
April: Telstra Optical Fibre Classification:
Our Branch concluded the matter with our member being upgraded from CFW4 to CFW5 about $11,000 pa more. The Court ordered almost $100,000 in backpay (almost 6 years). In addition, the Court also issued a penalty of $7,500 to be paid to our member.
See Bulletin 14
for more. As a result, Telstra upgraded about 35 more members and paid each significant backpay. We have claims for about 30 more members to be upgraded.
May: NBN Bullying: We successfully argued that a member was being bullied by a manager. NBN appealed but they failed. The issue is not yet complete.
See Bulletin 18 and
See Bulletin 37 for more.
Aug: Optus Shift Handover: We sued Optus in the Courts seeking payment for shift handover for 6 members. The matter was settled in mediation on terms not to be disclosed. Optus also reviewed the handover time of all other staff and have back paid those other staff who were involved.
Jan: TZV Ops EBA: After exhaustive negotiations, the EBA was finalised and approved by members. There are still issues arising and are being addressed.
Oct: TZV Uniforms: TZV is trying to revoke its previous agreement to the wearing of casual clothing on weekends. We have challenged this in the FWC and await the Decision.
May: TZV Mentoring Allowance: This was a disappointing outcome as we won the case at first instance. The Federal Court on appeal overturned our win.
Jul: Aus Post: Disciplinary Action: There are a number of disputes in NSW and Vic that occupy our time. We have had disciplinary action withdrawn and challenges others.
21 December 2025 - BULLETIN 2025/47
This week is our last Bulletin for 2025.
We review the year and our work.
We also report on developments in Telstra Optical Fibre and the HFC dispute.
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7 May 2025 - BULLETIN 2025/16
After a break we are back. This week we report on some general
Branch activities, the TZV Mentoring Appeal,
Telstra SOD in wideband, redundancies in Purple and Optus.
And we republish a story of our Branch activity in the Latrobe valley.
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14 September 2024 - TRIBUTE TO COL COOPER
When the Prime Minister attends a function and pays tribute to a person, then you know that person is a giant in their field.
Today, at a function organised by family and friends of our former Branch and Union
Official, Colin Cooper, was remembered by the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Col passed away on 1 August 2024.
Col was a giant in industrial relations in Australia.
While our Branch is now part of CEPU, it was formerly a stand alone Union
known as the PTTA and later the ATEA.
Col was an official for many years and won many game changing battles
as advancing technology impacted heavily on jobs and skills.
Click for the full Item.
Prime Minister Albanese speaking beside an iconic photo of Col Cooper
