TELSTRA EBA HOOK-UP
Monitor our HOME PAGE for details of the next hook-up. The hook-up is hosted by John Ellery a member of the negotiating committee from our T&S Vic Branch.

TELSTRA DEFINED BENEFIT SUPER AND CL 45
A subsidiary of Telstra would not be involved in the Telstra defined benefit superannuation scheme. A number of members are still in the Defined Benefit (DB) Scheme. We are advised that if you are a member of the DB Scheme, then you will still be eligible for redundancy if you refuse a position in a subsidiary. The reason is that the conditions of employment in the subsidiary would not be considered equivalent.

E000 LABOUR HIRE (PROGRAMMED)
In conjunction with the Vic T&S Branch we have written to Telstra re the conditions of service for casual staff. Our letter stated in part:

(We) write with regards to your engagement with Programmed Labour Hire in E000, and with concerns regarding conditions of employment. The Union understand that vast majority of Programmed staff are classified as casual employees, despite many working full time hours, some for more than 12 years. The engagement of Programmed staff is based on a rostering system published in advance, with a regular pattern of consistent starting and finishing times, mutual expectations of continued employment, and with reasonable expectations that work will be available. The characterisation of this employment relationship raises some concerns regarding permanency and entitlements. The Union request a meeting at your earliest convenience to discuss Telstra's model of recruitment and staffing of E000 centres. We seek your urgent response.

E000 ISSUES PADDINGTON
We met with Telstra on last Friday to raise a number of issues raised by members. The issues were acknowledged. We were advised that some will be resolved to some degree within 2 weeks when new operating systems are adopted. We agreed to meet again in 3 weeks to review progress with the issues. The issues very briefly were:
Noise: the new platform will allow use of all stations and staff could spread out. Further they will look at noise barriers.
Cold lunch room: To be taken up with the building manager.
General Atmosphere in workplace: will consider what can be done eg plants.
Cancelled Breaks: This is an important EBA provision. Staff must be given a break after 70 mins. Telstra to look at better planning.
Standing sitting at work: It is up to staff to decide- temporary rule on some desks until new platform
Permanent lockers: Telstra to look at providing these.

AUS POST AOD BEGINS
Post advise that in September all staff will have been briefed on the new Alcohol and Drug procedures. We did have a dismissal in Victoria over a refusal to take a test. We successfully challenged the dismissal. You should take note of the briefings and the particular procedures that are adopted.

TELSTRA EBA - CLAUSE 45
Talks continued with the Unions' Single Bargaining Unit (SBU) and Telstra meeting this week to continue negotiations. Prior to the meeting a draft clause circulated by Telstra disappointingly contained additions that diluted what had seemingly been proposed last week. These additions rang alarm bells for the SBU around members being coerced to giving up their redundancy preservation and was met with immediate opposition - leading to Telstra withdrawing from their additions and remaining at the point we had reached during out last meeting.
To reiterate what that is - if an employee is offered a position with a subsidiary which:
1. Is to perform substantially the same role;
2. On terms and conditions no less favourable than their employment with Telstra;
3. That recognises service with Telstra; and
4. Which provides for redundancy as per the Telstra scale
THEN the employee is not entitled to a redundancy from Telstra irrespective of whether or not they accept the offer.
If ANY of the above criteria are not met, then the employee remains entitled to redundancy regardless of whether they accept the offer or not. Special rules will apply for employees with defined benefit superannuation.

TELSTRA PROFIT DOWN CEO PAY UP 33%
This week Telstra has reported a 40 per cent reduction in its full-year profit from $3.5 billion to $2.15 billion. Revenue was down by $1 billion to $27.8 billion. Costs were cut as Telstra continued to slash 8,000 jobs. The full-year dividend was down 27% to 16 cents per share. No doubt the massive redundancies cut into the profit. NBN accounted for a big drop as well. Mobile phone and data plans were reduced from an unwieldy 1,800 to just 20. Telstra picked up 378,000 new mobile customers. Cost cutting continued EXCEPT for the CEO whose pay is up 33% - a tad more than the 1.8% offered to actual workers!

VIP - CONTACTING US - NEW PHONE NUMBER
Please note the following changes as we simplify our phone numbers
0428 942 878 dan.dwyer@cwunion.net Dan Dwyer Secretary/Lawyer - for industrial matters & advice
0447 265 443 reception@cwunion.net Administrative eg payments, applications, change of details

Authorised by Dan Dwyer Branch Secretary
CWU Telecommunications & Services Branch, Leichhardt, NSW.