SIGNAL No. 668– 15 June 2015
FOR THE UNION’S SAKE PLEASE VOTE!
The union’s four yearly elections are on. Voting is taking place throughout June.
Your opportunity to vote ends on 30th June 2015.
It is a fact that only a minority of union members vote in union elections. Let’s change that in these elections.
Have your say about who should lead the union at National Level over the next four years.
Vote Now!
If you have not received a ballot paper or if it has been lost or damaged, contact the Australia Electoral Commission (AEC) Returning Officer: Jeff Webb on 9285 7171 or jeff.webb@aec.gov.au
We also remind you that the B Ballot Paper – Divisional Vice-President (Affirmative Action) is issued to female members only for voting.
TELSTRA EA NEGOTIATIONS REPORT
There have now been six meetings of the negotiators for a new Enterprise Agreement (EA) in Telstra and two meetings of the working party looking at Job Descriptions (JDs).
So far the meetings have been largely taken up with Telstra, the unions and individual bargaining representatives outlining their claims and establishing their priorities for bargaining.
Early in the process, the CWU and other unions asked Telstra to clarify its position on EA redundancy payout entitlements because of the misinformation being circulated among members about this issue.
As has been previously reported, Telstra confirmed it was not seeking any change in this area.
But in the main matters which are actually up for negotiation discussions are still at an early stage and no agreements have been reached.
It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that for Telstra arrangements, particularly Job Descriptions, in the field workforce (CFW) and, to a lesser extent, the technical workforce (TW) are central to this round of negotiations. This largely reflects the new work opportunities that are opening up for Telstra in NBN-related areas, particularly in construction but also in ongoing installation and maintenance functions.
Telstra insists that it is not wanting to “broadband” CFW and TW roles along the lines of the Job Family model or to change pay structures. However it wants to simplify JDs across each current band where possible.
The CWU supports Telstra’s moving into areas of work that provide job opportunities for its members. But it will be carefully scrutinising any proposals relating to such moves to ensure they don’t adversely affect members’ wages and conditions.
ESTA’s BELOW THE LINE WAGE OFFER
Emergency Services Telecommunication Authority today tabled an insulting wage offer of 2.5% per year over 4 years.
This offer is below market rates of pay. The average public sector enterprise bargaining wage increase is 3.5% per year.
It is disappointing that ESTA feels that their wage offer is appropriate remuneration for all the hard work members do.
Further ESTA is continuing to reject the Unions’ claims without proposing alternatives.
The unions are considering further actions to progress negotiations including a section 240 bargaining dispute before the Fair Work Commission.
Despite ESTA claims to the contrary the bargaining has not progressed and following a stocktake at bargaining Thursday we find ourselves ostensibly in the same position as we were in January this year.
Members should keep their eyes open for a bulletin informing them of members meetings shortly.
THE STATE OF THE EXCHANGES
We often hear complaints about the poor state of cleaning, maintenance, general amenity and occupational health and safety standards in telephone exchanges.
Following representation from CWU Telstra has agreed to a working party, with the union, to examine the situation.
In order to assist the union we need more photographs and other evidence which demonstrates the state of the exchanges, as part of the preparation for that working party.
Please see what you can do to get the evidence to us in one form or another, email to texchange14@gmail.com or fax: 9663 8249 or post: PO Box 415 Carlton South 3053
JOHN ELLERY
Secretary