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EBA 2005 - Securing the Future


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  • Events - Burwood BBQ 22 Apr 05
  • MOST RECENT NEWS

    18-08-05 TELSTRA EBA BALLOT

    CEPU ballot result. 6163 returns, 5097 yes, 1066 no, 83% yes. Telstra Ballot closes 26 Aug.

             RETURN  YES  NO              RETURN  YES  NO
    NSW P&T     980  815 165     NSW T&S    1138 1011 127
    VIC P&T     511  327 184     VIC T&S    1049  868 181
    QLD P&T     473  293 180     QLD T&S     523  509  14
    SA  P&T     267  218  49     SA  T&S     402  365  37
    WA  P&T     278  201  77     WA  T&S     345  308  37
    TAS P&T     106   94  12     TAS T&S      91   88   3

    18-07-05 TELSTRA EBA - CEPU BALLOT

    A CEPU "Consultative Survey" of Telstra members will be conducted by all Branches from 1 Aug to 12 Aug. The question to be put to members is: 'I support the CEPU Communications Divisional Executive decision to enter into the Telstra Enterprise Agreement 2005-2008. Yes/No". Prior to the CEPU and Telstra ballot we will hold meetings with members to explain the proposed new EBA. Watch for local notices as meetings are underway.

    18-07-05 TELSTRA EBA - TELSTRA BALLOT

    In accordance with the Workplace Relations Act, Telstra will conduct a Ballot of all Telstra employees who are affected by the EBA, i.e. all Telstra 'Award based' staff and the Telstra Ballot will not include employees on individual contracts or AWAs. The timetable of the Ballot:
    07 July Telstra will mail copies of the EBA to all affected staff
    15 July 14 day consideration period will commence
    28 July Telstra will mail out their Ballot papers
    01 Aug CEPU Ballot commences
    05 Aug Telstra Ballot period commences
    12 Aug CEPU Ballot closes
    26 Aug Telstra Ballot period concludes
    31 Aug Result of Telstra Ballot finalised

    18-07-05 TELSTRA EBA - CERTIFICATION

    The proposed Agreement is for 3 years and provides for 3 wage increases of 2.5% each. The first is made on certification and the others after each 12 months. The basic employment conditions are the same as the current Agreement. The date of the first pay increase will depend on the result of the Telstra employee's Ballot and the time the Agreement is certified by the AIRC. If the Agreement is certified shortly after the Ballot is completed, the first pay increase would be dated from pay day 7 Sept with the first payment being received on pay day 22 Sept 2005.

    18-07-05 TELSTRA EBA - SUPERANNUATION

    Pre-tax superannuation is covered in Clause 22 of the proposed EBA and reflects the current Agreement. Other issues regarding CSS and TSS superannuation have traditionally not been covered by the EBA, but are the subject of separate discussions with Telstra. In relation to the CSS, Telstra have now informed 'Award employees' that they can now 'preserve' their CSS benefit and become a contributor to a TSS accumulation fund. Any information on this matter should be provided by Telstra at the request from the CSS employee. Issues relating to the CSS with privatisation of Telstra are still being pursued.

    04-07-05 TELSTRA EBA

    We have been working to establish meetings of members to allow explanation and discussion of the proposed EBA prior to the ballot. We will publish dates and venues as soon as they are confirmed.

    26-06-05 TELSTRA EBA 2005

    We are now preparing for the explanation phase of the new EBA. Briefings will be conducted either by telephone or face to face meetings. These will begin as soon as the agreement is printed and distributed. A ballot will take place, beginning about 4th August and concluding about 26 August. These are estimates only at this stage, and if the ballot supports the EBA, it will go to the AIRC for certification a few days later.

    20-06-05 TELSTRA EBA 2005 - DRAFT RELEASED

    During last week, a final document was presented to us. It is a 3 year agreement, with a 2.5% pay rise each year. No adjustment to allowances. There is one agreement covering all employees of Telstra, except country wide, where Telstra assure us there are no employees. There were no changes to conditions in substance, but minor wording changes. The ideological approach of the Cartwright era has been abandoned eg the agreement moves away from words like "You and your supervisor may..." to a professional approach like "A full time employee's ordinary hours...". The agreement will now be printed, distributed, discussed, put to a ballot and if accepted, certified in the AIRC. Dates later.

    18-06-05 TELSTRA EBA 2005

    Yesterday, the Communications Division of our Union took a decision to allow CEPU to be a party to a Telstra EBA Agreement giving members a 2.5% pay rise, with no loss of existing conditions. The other unions have also agreed. Our NSW Branch opposed the decision. Surprisingly, some Victorian Branch Secretaries spoke in support of the EBA after media pronouncements thay indicated that they would fight it. We will be preparing more detailed reports.

    10-06-05 EBA UPDATE

    Another week and another 2 meetings with Telstra. No change in the positions. Our CEPU Executive, comprising representatives from all states, will consider the Telstra position and membership responses at an Executive meeting this coming Wed, Thu and Fri. Media speculation, and comments from some (involved in the current election), that CEPU will have a strike is just humbug. The matter has not been even considered as yet. Yes there are many not happy with the offer, and a strike is but one option to protect our conditions. There are other options. Should the Executive reject the current offer, further consultations with members are necessary before strike action is considered. Watch our home page for updates.

    03-06-05 EBA UPDATE

    This is a short note to update the situation. We are consulting members at meetings across the state to gauge reaction to the position put by the negotiating committee. There will be a meeting with Telstra next week. The CEPU position will not be considered until the Executive meets in Melbourne on 15-16-17 June. We will update this page by next Friday at latest unless more news is available.

    25-05-05 FINAL PHASE OF NEGOTIATIONS

    This report from CEPU negotiators:

    Negotiations between Telstra and the Single Bargaining Unit of unions are now in the final phase. More meetings are planned over the coming weeks to develop new documentation. Full details of the proposed changes to the existing EBAs will be available to members when the parties have reached agreement on draft new agreement to be put to members. In the interim all unions will be discussing the draft proposals with members to ascertain the union's final position in negotiations.

    In broad terms, it is presently proposed that there will be minimal change to the current EBA. Conditions under threat from privatisation, will be protected by their incorporation into the EBA(s) and modest increases will be paid annually during a two or three year agreement.

    The following table gives more detail of the position of the parties during the negotiation process so far. The table is not intended to include all of the myriad of issues discussed during the eighteen (18) meetings so far but it does include the major matters.

    • RDOs
      • Telstra Position:- Telstra believe the present RDO arrangements are inflexible and cause difficulties in meeting CSG requirements and other operational issues. The suspension of RDO entitlements could help overcome times of operational difficulties or a CSG type crisis (storms, etc ).
      • CEPU Position:- The unions believe that the banking of RDOs over a longer period than two weeks or partial RDOs, both at the discretion of the employee in agreement with the manager would provide the flexibility sought by management.
      • Outcome:- After extensive negotiations the parties were unable to reach agreement.
      • EBA Changes:- Existing clause will not change.
    • Grandfathering Allowance
      • Telstra Position:- Telstra believe that staff doing the same work should be paid the same money and that those receiving Grandfathering Allowance should revert to the company salary rate of the position they hold more quickly than is presently the case.
      • CEPU Position:- The unions believe that those staff on Grandfathered Allowance are already paying the penalty for Telstra moving to company rates and thereby saving significantly on previous salaries, and that those staff should not be further penalised.
      • Outcome:- After extensive negotiations the parties were unable to reach agreement.
      • EBA Changes:- Existing clause will not change.
    • Reclassification
      • Telstra Position:- Telstra believe the present classification clauses are inflexible and delay Telstra's response to competitive pressures
      • CEPU Position:- The unions believe the present clauses provide certainty to all parties. In circumstances of identified competitive issues, the unions believe that the parties, utilising the present clauses can resolve the issues.
      • Outcome:- After extensive negotiations the parties were unable to reach agreement.
      • EBA Changes:- Existing clause will not change.
    • Maternity Leave
      • Telstra Position:- Maternity Leave provisions are presently contained within Federal Legislation. Telstra believe there is no immediate requirement for change.
      • CEPU Position:- The unions believe it is in the interests of all parties to have one consistent Maternity Leave provision nationally.
      • Outcome:- The parties reached agreement.
      • EBA Changes:- New clause to be inserted in Agreement.
    • Long Service Leave
      • Telstra Position:- Long Service Leave provisions are presently contained within Federal Legislation. Telstra believe there is no immediate requirement for change.
      • CEPU Position:- The unions believe it is in the interests of all parties to have one consistent Long Service Leave provision nationally
      • Outcome:- The parties reached agreement.
      • EBA Changes:- New clause to be inserted in Agreement.
    • CSS Telstra Privatisation
      • Telstra Position:- Telstra believe the effects of full privatisation on employees in the CSS and other Superannuation schemes is yet to be determined and is unlikely to be known until closer to privatisation.
      • CEPU Position:- The unions wanted Telstra to heed union representations concerning the effect on members when details are known.
      • Outcome:- The parties reached in principle agreement on the need for proper consultation and representation at the appropriate time.
    • Salary Packaging
      • Telstra Position:- Telstra believe flexible arrangements such as salary packaging are best contained in other forms of agreement
      • CEPU Position:- The unions believe that other employees should benefit from these flexible arrangements and that a greater degree of flexibility in employment arrangements would suit all parties.
      • Outcome:- The parties were unable to reach agreement.
      • EBA Changes:- The existing clause enabling superannuation salary sacrifice will not be widened.
    • Public Holidays
      • Telstra Position:- Telstra believe there is no reason to duplicate the existing award provision in the EBA.
      • CEPU Position:- The unions believe that all parties would have greater certainty if the award entitlements were protected from legislative change by their insertion in the EBA.
      • Outcome:- The parties were unable to reach agreement.
      • EBA Changes:- No change to existing EBA.
    • Concession Day
      • Telstra Position:- Telstra believe there is no reason to duplicate the existing award provision in the EBA.
      • CEPU Position:- The unions believe that all parties would have greater certainty if the award entitlements were further detailed and inserted in the EBA.
      • Outcome:- The parties agree that existing arrangements will continue to apply.
      • EBA Changes:- No change to existing EBA.
    • Call Centre Start & Finish Hours
      • Telstra Position:- Telstra believe the existing clause is clear.
      • CEPU Position:- The unions believe there is a need for further clarity and have proposed a minor change.
      • Outcome:- The parties have agreed to clarify existing clause.
      • EBA Changes:- No change to span of hours but a minor change to existing clause wording.
    • Span of hours
      • Telstra Position:- Telstra believe that the present span of hours no longer meets the legislative requirements of some states and is uncompetitive when compared to other Telcos.
      • CEPU Position:- The unions believe that changes to the present spans would severely impact upon the salaries of some of the lowest paid Telstra employees.
      • Outcome:- The parties were unable to reach agreement.
      • EBA Changes:- The existing clause will not change.
    • Salary Adjustments
      • Telstra Position:- Telstra believe that only a minimal salary adjustment should occur as no major changes, producing major savings are proposed in the EBA. CPI adjustments are not part of the EBA wage fixing process.
      • CEPU Position:- The unions believe that there are significant ongoing productivity improvements that produce significant savings for Telstra and that any increase should as a minimum reflect CPI movements.
      • Outcome:- After extensive negotiations, a three year agreement with increases of 2.5% to be paid on certification and then two further increases of 2.5% paid on the twelve month anniversary of the first increase, is proposed.
      • EBA Changes:- The parties have agreed to consult their respective principals and constituents over the two or three year, 2.5% pa, proposal.
    • ADSL Job Descriptions
      • Telstra Position:- Telstra believe the present job descriptions cover ADSL and other new technologies..
      • CEPU Position:- The CEPU believe that Telstra have not paid sufficient heed to representations that ADSL and other technologies involve more complex work than Telstra understand.
      • Outcome:- The parties have agreed that this issue needs to be addressed again while EBA discussions are finalised and a transparent outcome achieved.
      • EBA Changes:- A new review of this work is being conducted now with CEPU and Telstra grading experts involved.

    Summary

    Negotiations are continuing and will not be finalised until all matters are agreed. At this stage it appears that the Single Bargaining Unit has been successful in negotiating valuable changes to the EBA. The new EBA(s) are proposed to incorporate conditions of service under threat upon full privatisation.

    The proposed three year term provides stability for conditions during privatisation and also during the changes to industrial legislation about to be introduced by the Howard Liberal Government..

    The proposed increases of 2.5% while at the low end of expectations, should be considered in the context that there has been no loss of conditions.

    The overall proposed outcome is consistent with the results obtained from CEPU member surveys conducted prior to negotiations which clearly indicated that retention of conditions was considered to be of higher priority than significant salary increases.

    All of the conditions which were under attack, would be placed back on the bargaining table by Telstra if this proposal was rejected.

    A major dispute requiring lengthy industrial action from affected members would be required to change Telstra's position.

    Where to from here?

    Telstra have consistently indicated during negotiations that they will only increase the salary offer if the unions agree to trade off conditions. Telstra's position means there are three options to consider.

    • Option 1 - Accept the offer.
    • Option 2 - Start an industrial action campaign to force Telstra to increase the salary offer.
    • Option 3 - Reject the offer and attempt to negotiate a better salary offer. (Note Telstra have already indicated that they wont discuss an increased salary offer without conditions, "trade offs").
    Meetings are being conducted throughout Australia by CEPU to further brief members on the EBA developments and for members to determine a way forward in the EBA process from here. Contact your local CEPU Coordinator/Representative/Contact person or Union Official to find out when & where your meeting will be held if you are not a member contact any of the above to join now.

    Survey Form

    A CEPU survey form is attached to this bulletin. Please fill it in to assist CEPU officials in representing your views at future EBA negotiations.

    Should you require further information, please contact Branch Assistant Secretary Laurie Chalker or Officials Lyle Brittain, Steve Dodd or Shane Murphy on (02) 9893 7822.



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