Communication Workers Union

Members are aware there is as yet no agreement with Telstra on a draft EBA.

We have reached some understandings on a range of issues in the negotiations. We are currently examining the words in Telstra’s draft document to see if they accurately reflect those understandings. These are being discussed between the union and Telstra.

On pay, as you know, we have not reached agreement and Telstra is still offering 2.5% less than those on the ECA are receiving.

The feedback from members via meetings, telephone conferences, work centre visits, surveys and other discussions/communications makes it clear that members do not accept that Telstra’s offer is adequate.

However, to test that view yet again, the union is about to conduct a postal consultative survey of members (who are on an EBA, expired AWAs or ITEA) to home addresses throughout Australia, to ascertain the collective view of the eligible membership regarding the Telstra offer.

You will be sent:

·         An explanation about what would be in an agreement and what would not be in an agreement, if we sign up now including a “for” and “against” case.

·         An explanation of the difficulties which face us with the various options available.

·         A voting paper to fill in and return.

Please note that this is not a ballot to formally or legally vote for or against a draft EBA. This is a consultative survey of union members only, conducted by the union, to seek a collective membership view, to guide the union negotiators.

Any formal, legal ballot on an agreed draft EBA will be conducted by the employer, as required by law, and would be voted on by all employees on the EBA, on expired AWAs, and on ITEAs, (all of which have now expired), not just union members.

The CEPU members’ consultative survey vote will begin in the next week to ten days, and conclude approximately two weeks after that.

If you have had a change of postal address recently, could you please contact the branch (9349 4411 or cdtsvic@victs.cepu.asn.au) urgently to update our records and to help ensure that you receive your voting paper and related information,. If you are on an ECA or an unexpired AWA we would also like this information to update our records.

OT & RECALL/START & END OF DAY
Overtime bans and recall bans continue to apply on a daily basis and includes weekends and public holidays - 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 as well as work functions outside normal paid hours.

For example members that would normally log on at 7.30 am with an "on site" start time of 8.00 am, should commence log on to start work at 8.00 am then travel to first job.

Other members in areas such as call centres, where Telstra try to force them into a ready situation prior to their start time should also apply this action. They also should be logging on at their actual start time.

END OF DAY
No function other than actually driving home (to a maximum of 30 minutes ) past the normal paid knock-off time should be performed at the end of day. Members who would normally clear work during normal hours should continue to do so, However members should not perform any other out of hours function including the "submit" function for last ticket of work.

End of day functions that are covered by the ban on paid & unpaid O/T include: dropping off or picking up stores at depot, filling out paper work, any computer related functions including shutting it off , phone log off, etc.

Members should simply upon returning home, park the vehicle, turn it and their phone off. There is no need to notify anybody as the GPS will already know that the vehicle has been parked at its normal location.

Members simply apply the overtime ban from the time they finish driving until they log on again at their start time.

OTHER ACTION

The paid & unpaid OT/Recall should also be applied to performing other functions outside the normal hours of duty such as, washing and cleaning vehicles, training, etc.

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

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