SLD10/36 - Net Const Members Action EBA In Telstra
NETWORK CONSTRUCTION MEMBERS’ ACTION – EBA IN TELSTRA
Network Construction members in Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia have taken strike action this week, impacting Transformation and Wideband projects, and the WA mining industry.
The following press statement summarises the action of our West Australian members.
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WA TELSTRA TECHNICIANS ON STRIKE The Communications Workers Union has hit out at Telstra, as key WA technical employees walked out to show their anger and frustration over the company's two tier pay arrangements which would see union negotiated agreement employees at least $14,000 worse off over the life of that agreement compared to their co workers on an employer non negotiated agreement. National Assistant Secretary Burt Blackburne claimed "The WA members views coincide with an independent survey of CEPU members Australia wide conducted by the respected company AUSPOLL which showed employees rejecting Telstra’s offer by more than two to one." AUSPOLL also indicated that the member participation rate in the survey was nearly double what might be expected of this process. The striking employees will have a major impact on telecommunications services in key Mining, Oil & Gas and Community Sector projects across WA particularly in the Pilbara, Gascoyne and Kimberley regions. Members met at the Kewdale depot 10am Monday morning and voted unanimously to take the action. Mr Blackburne called on the Telstra CEO David Thodey to intervene to prevent what the union describes as blatant discrimination against a section of the Telstra workforce. "Telstra needs all of its skilled and dedicated workforce on side given the delicate and challenging situation facing the company." Mr Blackburne said. WA Branch Organiser John O'Donnell claimed "CWU members will no longer accept being discriminated against purely for asking for a union negotiated agreement. |
WA MEMBER APPEAL
The WA Branch is appealing to all members nationally to support the Construction Workers who are taking action should they require financial assistance.
Also we request that should Telstra try to mobilise equally skilled members from all other states that members decline to travel to the West.
It is the intention of the WA Construction members to stay out as long as is necessary to bring this agreement to a climax and for Telstra to end it's clear campaign of discrimination against our members with regard to the pay offer.
Large scale Rallies will be held in Perth this week supported by affiliated unions to expose Telstra and gain as much of a public profile as we physically can.
We would like to take the time to thank all affiliated unions and the CEPU'S branches nationally for all the support we have been given during this protracted campaign.
Details for the WA welfare fund are below any donations small or large are very much appreciated and will go a long way towards helping our members sustain the fight.
Direct debit through your financial institution or EFT to: CEPU Welfare Fund. Members Equity BSB: 944301 ACCT: 407764224. Cheque or Money Order made out to CEPU Welfare Fund and posted to: CEPU Welfare Fund, 196 Lord Street, Perth WA 6000
TELSTRA OFF TO THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION (FAIR WORK AUSTRALIA) YET AGAIN
Telstra has once again taken CEPU to Fair Work Australia (FWA) seeking orders against the union about its current 24 hour stoppage notices. (They are not bad are they for a company that has historically denied its employees the right to arbitration over a dispute?)
Rather than waste time in FWA, (and no doubt if Telstra lost just like last time they will appeal to a full bench), and then before the full bench, CEPU agreed to withdraw the current 24 hour strike notices and reword them.
Therefore further stoppage/strike action will recommence from next Wednesday 24th February 2010. We will provide you with more details prior to that date.
OTHER INDUSTRIAL ACTION CONTINUES
Members should note that the overtime and recall bans throughout Australia continue and still apply.
These bans are having a high impact in many parts of the business and must be retained and applied by members.
This includes the start of the day bans on unpaid overtime, such as the start-of-day logon procedures. These bans will continue.
The only temporary exception to the general ban on overtime and recall is in those states affected by natural disaster (e.g. floods), where numbers of employees have temporarily shifted to those states supposedly to assist with the flood restoration work.
Victorian members are directed to continue to apply the recall and overtime bans. If there are any difficulties with this directive, please contact the union officials or the Branch office 9349 4411.
The Victorian Branch of the CEPU is of the view that Victorian members and other employees should not volunteer to perform work interstate until further notice. We think it is totally unacceptable for employees to be required to travel interstate to overcome the impact of mismanagement (staff shortages, redundancies), whilst at the same time discriminating against EBA employees in terms of inadequate pay increases.
LEN COOPER
Branch Secretary
M. 0438 389 302
