BULLETIN NO 124 Dated 15-08-18
Thank you for Voting - NO!!
TELSTRA EBA -OUR CONGRATULATIONS.
Our members congratulate and thank all non-members who voted NO - and demonstrated to Telstra that we are united. We can be even more effective with non-members joining the Union. Encourage your fellow workers to join the CWU Telecommunications & Services Branch - see https://cwunion.net/cepu/cepu303.htm.
Nobody would have missed the news that the NO vote exceeded 81%. It demonstrates once again that collective action can improve matters. The Unions will now recommence negotiations with Telstra seeking a larger pay rise, deletion of the clauses that threaten Redundancy benefits, more "policy" (not rights) for Job Family members and improvements as set out in our log of claims. Negotiations will recommence on Thursday, 16 August.
IS INDUSTRIAL ACTION INEVITABLE?
No. The ability of union members to take industrial action significantly improves our Union bargaining power. It is all about power. Bargaining power is usually enough to get a fair agreement. The threat of industrial action is a powerful power to have. Particularly when the threat is real and the action is potentially effective. These days, highly targeted industrial action, can be very effective. We will of course prepare for action, and hope that Telstra read the mood of employees and offer fair terms and conditions.
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