Communication Workers Union

TELSTRA’S LATEST “LAST” OFFER

As you would be aware Telstra have commenced to circulate a pay offer that they maintain is their final, “final” offer.

Throughout this campaign our negotiators have repeatedly told Telstra that members find it very difficult to accept two rates of pay for the same designation. This is a situation that Telstra created when they attempted to roll out non-Union agreements. The CEPU negotiators have relayed the feedback we have received from members that any offer should address this two tiered situation.

The current offer still maintains a wage differential between ECA and EBA staff which will be even more apparent when the agreements expire.

Telstra management have asked for your feedback and we encourage you to do this. Telstra also urge you to contact your bargaining rep (they can't bring themselves to say "Union").

The CEPU is charged with the responsibility of carrying out the wishes of members. Whilst there is no such obligation on the part of Telstra, perhaps due to their industrial deafness, they need to get the message louder.

Stand by for a more detailed response from the Union early next week.

OT & RECALL/START & END 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 as well as work functions outside normal paid hours (see below).

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

START OF DAY
Ban on OT paid or unpaid continues to apply, Therefore field based members should not be logging on 1/2 hour prior to paid start time.

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.

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, computer/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 etc.

LEN COOPER
CEPU Branch Secretary
M. 0438 389 302

JOHN ELLERY
CEPU Branch Assistant Secretary
M. 0419 823 580