Communication Workers Union

STOPPAGE DIRECTIVE VICTORIAN NETWORK SERVICES (Including Clayton GOC )

Victorian CEPU members in Network Services (including GOC – 30 Henderson Rd Clayton) are directed to stop work for 24 hours Monday 15^th March 2010, from 12.01 am to 11.59 pm

Note:
For those members rostered on SUNDAY NIGHT SHIFT will commence at usual Sunday night start time and commence their stoppage from 12.01 am through to 11.59 pm Monday 15^th .

For those members rostered on MONDAY NIGHT SHIFT will commence later at 11.59 pm Monday 15^th (there is no notification for Tuesday 16^th).

This 24 hr stoppage is legal, protected action.

NETWORK CONSTRUCTION (1)
Members need to advise the Branch if there has been a letter received from Management regarding changes to the “headstation” arrangements, particularly for those itinerant field staff that have normally had their home address as the “headstation”.

NETWORK CONSTRUCTION (2)
A number of Network Construction members have received a letter from management which warns of disciplinary action following the taking of legal protected industrial action. In that letter, Telstra claims that the CEPU have not properly notified of industrial action, and threatens further action if members take action that they have unilaterally declared “illegal”.

Following advice from the Branch’s legal advisors, CEPU have responded with an appropriate response to the letter writer.

If members receive any of these “warning” letters, they should advise the Branch immediately, so that a follow up letter can be sent to the appropriate manager.

OT & RECALL/START OF DAY
Overtime bans and recall bans continue to apply on a daily basis - further notices regarding these bans and stoppages for the upcoming days have been forwarded to Telstra. These bans are legal, protected action.

As a further reminder, the ban relating to unpaid overtime continues to apply to the unpaid "log on" prior to normal start time

Any problems with these bans should be notified to the branch office.

For any queries, please contact either John Ellery 0419 823 580 or Len Cooper 0438 389 302

INDUSTRIAL ACTION UPDATE:

CEPU Members in the Assurance and Argent areas of Next Gen Ops (NGO) at Collins St took 4 hr industrial action last week, despite further threats from management. At present, attempts by NGO management to PICM these members over recent industrial action has been placed on hold, following legal intervention. These members should be congratulated on their resolve in this dispute, despite all the threats.

Members in Network Construction coordinated with WA members to place further pressure on Management with a sequence of 24 hr stoppages over 4 days last week. This action was well supported, and has clearly identified to Management that they have had enough of the discriminatory activities of Telstra in relation to the pay offer (i.e. against what was offered in the non union ECA).

Members in Service Delivery took 24 hr stoppage action on Tuesday of this week, and we are advised that the fault queues, with the added problems of the weekend storms, are large.

WELFARE FUND
Members who are not involved in the key area action, should donate to the CEPU Member Welfare Fund to help sustain those members who are out on strike for extended periods in the key areas.

The details of the welfare fund payment process are as follows:
Direct debit through your financial institution or EFT to: CEPU Welfare Fund. BSB: 063262 Ac No: 10454772
Cheque or money order made out to CEPU Welfare Fund and posted to: CEPU Welfare Fund, 1/139 Queensberry Street, Carlton South 3053.
Credit Card over the phone to the Branch - 03 9349 4411

There is no BPAY facility

To Apply To Claim On The Fund
If you wish to make a claim to help with any hardship being experienced, please contact JOHN ELLERY Branch Assistant Secretary, in the first instance: 0419 823 580

LEN COOPER
CEPU Branch Secretary
M. 0438 389 302

JOHN ELLERY
CEPU Branch Assistant Secretary
M. 0419 823 580