CWU T&S WEEKLY BULLETIN NO 2021 /
08
28 Feb 2021
OPTUS ARL DISPUTE
Optus is in our view pressuring staff to take annual leave. Some of their messages to staff are clearly more than a request. The matter has now been notified to the FWC as a dispute. Here two examples we cited in the application.
- We will automatically load annual leave into HRCentral for the Summer break period for all employees except customer-facing and rostered employees in Digital, Retail and Channel Sales and OB, as well as employees in My Compass.
- We will automatically load the Monday 25 January 2021 annual leave day into HRCentral for all employees except customer-facing and rostered employees in Digital, Retail and Channel Sales and OB, as well as employees in My Compass.
OPTUS ARL DISPUTE - WHAT WE SEEK
If you would like a copy of the full dispute notice, please reply to the email seeking a copy. In our notice to the FWC we sought the following:
- that all Optus prefilling be reversed by Optus immediately
- that staff are informed of this action and advised that they can apply for the day off it they wish
- urgent clarification of the "Summer Break"
- if there is an expectation that the "Summer Break" must be taken as annual leave
- whether leave has been pre filled for the "Summer Break"
- an explanation of the legal basis to enforce the taking of Annual leave
- an explanation of the legal basis to enforce the reduction of Annual leave.
OPTUS ARL DISPUTE - WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW
Optus may respond in writing to our application. The FWC has listed the dispute for a conference next Wednesday 3rd March where it will seek to resolve the issues raised in our application. If the matter is not resolved, it will move to a formal hearing.
POST SPF SHIFT SWAP - MEETING
We met with Christian Jackson last week to discuss the issues arising out of the conciliation conference with FWC Deputy President Bull. DP Bull had made a number of valuable comments to aid the parties. We presented amendments to the shift swap guidelines which we believe are in line with the comments of DP Bull. Post appeared positive in responding to our claims. Post is considering our claims and will respond next Monday.
POST SPF SHIFT SWAP - SHIFT SWAP GUIDELINES - 20 FEB 2021
The shift swap process will be as follows;
BATHURST EXCHANGE
Telstra response to our representation:
This was raised to the team (Asset Ops & Maintenance) when first flagged. Based on the information at hand, the decision was made to defer the works and turn the water off to reduce the initial hazard. It was assessed that there were sufficient facilities within the area to circumvent any hygiene risks. On further follow-up with the team, I can confirm a TOW (ticket of work) has been re-issued for a plumber to attend the site. The plumber has been able to further isolate the initial leak and return service to the toilets, bathroom and kitchen.
OBERON EXCHANGE
Telstra response to our representation:
This was also raised to the AO&M team at the same time. Based on the information at hand, the decision was made to take immediate action by turning off the water and blocking the usage of the toilet to stop the flow of sewage. Investigation of the blockage was deferred on account of the immediate risk being addressed. On follow-up with the team, I can confirm here also that a TOW has been re-issued for a plumber to attend the site. The plumber has reportedly fixed the blockage and returned the toilets to normal operation.
MIRAIT EBA NEGOTIATIONS
We have met on 3 occasions now. At the 25 Feb meeting, we essentially got the significant elements of the log of claims from Mirait. Mirait assured us that this is essentially the bad news. They argue that you will be better off. We will soon arrange a meeting of members to prepare our response. The current EBA can be found with a friendly index at CWU Mirait Page (https://cwunion.net/telecom/pbai010.htm Below is a very short summary of the Mirait proposals. We will issue a detailed bulletin in the next few days.
MIRAIT EBA NEGOTIATIONS - SOME PROPOSALS
Pay Increases - this year: Mirait has been clear - there will be no CPI increase this year.
Pay Increases - subsequent years: The EBA rates will increase in line with CPI but capped. The minimum will be 1.0% (instead of 1.5%) and the maximum will be 2.5% (instead of 3.0%)
Pay Increases become optional for most: If your hourly rate is above the EBA rate, and we are told that most staff are in this category, then there is no automatic pay increase each year. You could go 4 years without a pay rise. Increases will depend on relativity to the market, performance and capabilities and MTA's financial performance.
Hours of Work: The proposal now is that you work only 38 hours and your pay will not change. Put another way, you will work 2 hours per week less in future for the same pay.
Your hourly rate: Your hourly rate will increase as in future, the weekly pay will be divided by 38, instead of 40. This is important as you will receive more per hour if you work overtime or receive shift penalties.
Your overtime after 2 hours: The proposal is that you will receive double time after 3 hours, not 2 hours.
Stand Down: Two new sub paragraphs are added which will allow Mirait to stand you down for an indefinite time without pay,
Meal Allowance: The allowance will increase from $16.50 to $17.82
SIGN THE ACTU PETITION
In the past few months, more than 83,135 people just like you have stepped up and signed our petition opposing laws that would hurt workers and wreck our economy. And more than 13,785 people like you have contacted the crossbench by sending an email explaining why anti-worker laws will hurt, not heal, our economy.
The Government's new proposed industrial relations legislation contains permanent, extreme and dangerous proposals that will hurt workers. The Morrison Government tried a new tactic to con Australians and the crossbench into thinking that the Bill is now "fixed", by abandoning just a single part of their law changes. But we know the truth: this Bill is still dangerous, still extreme, and this attempt to spin and trick the public and the cross-bench senators must not be allowed to work.
Petition page and
Australian Unions - Email the Crossbench
Authorised by Dan Dwyer Branch Secretary
CWU Telecommunications & Services Branch, Sydney City, NSW.