VOTE NO TO TELSTRA EBA

Our Branch Committee of Management took the following decision:
Given the current CPI of 3.5% and the Morrison Government budget forecast of 4.25%, the current pay offer of 2.5% and 3.0% will result in a large real wage cut over the next two years. The Branch urges all members to vote NO.

WHY VOTE NO?

Telstra needs the EBAs in place so that they can proceed with the break-up of Telstra. A NO vote will give us bargaining power again. We will not need bans or other selective industrial action in the first instance. Your pay increase is not due for another 6 months. The March quarter CPI is due later this month. And we may have a new Government. Spread the word.

E000 WORKERS BEING TARGETTED BY TELSTRA

In a late developement, our negotiators advised that Telstra was seeking to alter the breaks of E000 workers. Telstra is already deferring breaks (despite the EBA) and this is just to make it legal. We were disgusted to learn of this and we had no time to respond before Telstra packed up and ran to a vote. The new clause states:

16.3. Rest breaks in Emergency Triple Zero
a) If you work in Emergency Triple Zero:
i) you can take up to two 15 minute and three 10 minute paid rest breaks;
ii) we will ensure you won't work longer than 70 minutes without having a rest break; (except where clause 16.3 b) applies);
iii) one rest break per day can be used for management or training purposes.
b) In the event of an unplanned high volume of calls event (e.g., a natural disaster or Denial of Service attack) or unexpected delay by an emergency service operator to answer Emergency Triple Zero calls, the Company may require your rest break to be delayed by up to 1 hour in order to ensure that the Company can meet its legal obligations in relation to emergency call services.

TELSTRA RUSH TO EBA VOTE

Telstra's lack of sincerity in its dealings with you was demonstrated again last week. At the negotiations last week, Telstra said they were going to cut and run. Telstra is going to a ballot immediately.

BALLOT TIMETABLE

The Access Period where you can read the EBA and be briefed is 7-13 April
The Vote will be conducted by CorpVote. The ballot will be conducted online or via telephone.
Amplitel, InfraCo Field & Telstra Limited EAs: Voting will be open from 12:01am AEST on Thursday 14 April until 4:00pm AEST on Wednesday 27 April 2022.
Retail EA: Voting will be open from 12:01am AEST on Thursday 14 April until 4:00pm AEST on Friday 22 April 2022.

TPG EBA MEETING DELAYED

TPG has proposed that the next meeting of the bargaining teams be held on Tuesday 26 April. TPG has responded to a number of questions raised by the members of the teams and our Union.
If you would like a copy of the answers, please make a request by return email.