Voluntary "flexibility" options
Telstra has proposed changes to the Agreement that would allow employees to work more "flexibly". What is encompassed in the word "flexible" could mean very different understandings, depending on which side of the bargaining table you are on. Particularly, they're looking at allowing employees to enter in to split shift arrangements, working from home where possible, and working outside the current ordinary span of hours. A prepared set of clauses were tabled that had obviously been worked on for some time. The 7 page document of clauses concentrated on span of hours (currently 7 am to 7 pm), shift arrangements, and the notion of "split shifts".
Telstra claims these options will be entirely based upon agreement by the individual employee, who would be able to terminate at any time said agreement at any time, and is also seeking to have the changes implemented through a variation to the Award.
The Union is reserving its position on this until we have had an opportunity to properly scrutinise the various proposals once further detail is revealed. At this stage, we find it peculiar that this "flexibility" area is being looked at, as there is considerable flexibility in the current EBA (clause 21) allowing a variety of options that are initiated by the employee, subject to approval by the employer.