OPTICAL FIBRE CASE OPEN ZOOM HOOK-UP

You are invited to join us on ZOOM to discuss the outcome of the case and to discuss how we will develop a claim seeking permanent upgrades and backpay. The meeting will be at 7.00 PM on MONDAY 3 MARCH
Join the meeting (See email for details)

OPTICAL FIBRE CASE PENALTY HEARING

The final hearing was held on Wednesday where we argued for the imposition of a penalty for underpaying our member by about $100,000. We now await the Court's decision.

NOKIA PAY

We participated in another conciliation this week. We were advised that Nokia will hold a ballot of staff to determine if staff want monthly pay. We are not involved and will wait to see what incentives will be offered to encourage you to vote for monthly pay. The conciliation has been adjourned until 27 March.

NBN EBA BALLOT

NBN has advised of the voting details: There were 400 votes in favour and 379 votes against a difference of 21 votes.

HFC WORK ALMOST GONE

A number of members have reported that they are being asked to do some very low level work now that the HFC work has almost all been handed over to NBN. The work being done includes pay phone cleaning and pole inspections. This is a classic redundancy situation of work disappearing, and redeployment. However Telstra does not seem to see it that way. The work being offered is not suitable alternative employment for most technical Staff. We wrote to Telstra this week seeking an explanation. Telstra replied almost immediately. Telstra said:

As you would know, many of the ex-HFC employees were already multi-skilled, e.g. they had skills in copper. We are also actively reskilling, like with the fibre training we rolled out last year. As such, we are utilising their skills as required, and they are doing more than payphone cleaning.
We also have the multifunctional work provisions of the EA. Appendix C3.1 allows us to ask our Workstream CFW employees to perform functions at or below their current band.

We will hold a special Zoom hookup next week probably Monday 20 March at 7pm.

OPTUS EBA VOTE

Bargaining for a new Optus Employee Partnership Agreement has now concluded, with Optus seeking to put the offer to a vote. Soon, you will have the opportunity to decide whether to accept the new EPA, which will shape your pay and conditions for the next three years.
Access Period Opens, Thursday the 27 February 2025, this is your chance to view the proposed agreement and explanatory material. Should you have any questions please reach out to us.
Ballot Opens: 10am Wednesday the 12 March 2025 Ballot Closes: 5pm Monday the 17 March 2025
Negotiations have resulted in some slight improvements to existing conditions, including: