Last week we engaged in strike action for the first time in over a decade. Our initial planned symbolic action was carefully planned to occur in unpaid time and minimise the impacts on customers, whilst still allowing members to send a clear message to Telstra.

Telstra's reaction to threaten to dock members a full day's pay for engaging, effectively locking you out for each and every day you engaged in this action, was NOT required by law, despite Telstra's claims, but rather a display of clear contempt for the workforce and for your customers who were subsequently inconvenienced - causing further public damage to Telstra's brand.

Your CWU bargaining team is ready and willing to meet with Telstra at short notice to resolve outstanding matters of contention - to deliver an EBA you and your families deserve, with a fair pay rise, not a pay cut. However, despite our efforts to schedule a meeting with Telstra, we are still waiting for them to come to the table.

Therefore, the Union is directing all members employed by Telstra who are covered by the EBA (including AWA and ITEA) across all States and Territories to engage in action that minimises impacts to customers by refusing to accept any stock or equipment at their residences from 12:01am, Monday 25 March 2019 until further notice.

Members are directed to continue to engage in all active protected actions. For your ease of reference, the below summarizes all authorised protected action currently active and/or notified to commence:

1. INDEFINITE BAN ON PERFORMANCE OF ESSENTIAL CUSTOMER SERVICE WORK

COMMENCED: 12:01am March 7 2019 (NSW,ACT,SA,NT,QLD,TAS,VIC) & 12:01am March 8 2019 (WA)
CONCLUDES: Upon further notice from the CEPU/CWU
This means, if you are listed on a recall roster as "on call", on "emergent call" or on "immediate call" you are directed to not attend to any duties associated with this roster, including; attending to call outs, responding to call outs, attending to any remote duties (including telephone advice or accessing systems from home).
Note: this action does not apply where there is a threat to life or the safety or health of persons.

2. INDEFINITE BAN ON PERFORMANCE OF EMERGENCY WORK

COMMENCED: 12:01am March 7 2019 (NSW,ACT,SA,NT,QLD,TAS,VIC) & 12:01am March 8 2019 (WA)
CONCLUDES: Upon further notice from the CEPU/CWU
This means, if you receive a callout for emergency work, (that is - you were not on an after-hours roster and you were not notified you may be called out), you are directed not to attend to that work - including any remote activities such as telephone advice. Note: this action does not apply where there is a threat to life or the safety or health of persons.

3. INDEFINITE BAN ON PERFORMANCE OF ADDITIONAL HOURS AND SCHEDULED & UNSCHEDULED OVERTIME

COMMENCED: 12:01am March 13 2019 (ALL STATES AND TERRITORIES)
CONCLUDES: Upon further notice from the CEPU/CWU
Note: this action does not apply to members in Triple Zero call centres and does not apply where there is a threat to life or the safety of persons

4. UPCOMING INDEFINITE BAN ON ACCEPTING STOCK OR EQUIPMENT AT HOMES

COMMENCES: 12:01am March 25 2019 (ALL STATES AND TERRITORIES)
CONCLUDES: Upon further notice from the CEPU/CWU
Note: this action does not apply where there is a threat to life or the safety or health of persons.

IMPORTANT NOTICE - PLEASE READ

TO TAKE PART IN PROTECTED INDUSTRIAL ACTION, YOU MUST BE:

1. Currently employed by Telstra and within the scope of the proposed Enterprise Agreement; and
2. A current member of the CWU - if you are not a member, you can join prior to action commencing by contacting 0428 942 878

TO ENSURE THAT THE ACTION YOU ARE PARTICIPATING IN IS LEGAL AND PROTECTED:

Ensure you are following only the action which the Union has authorised. If you require further clarification on any of the abovementioned notified actions, please contact us immediately.

YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PRIOR NOTICE TO TELSTRA OR ANY MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVE OF YOUR INTENTIONS TO ENGAGE IN PROTECTED INDUSTRIAL ACTION:

You are not required to provide any notice of your intentions to engage in the abovementioned protected action. Appropriate notification as required under legislation has been provided to Telstra by the Union

IGNORE ANY INDUSTRIAL ACTION NOTICES FROM MANAGEMENT:

Members are advised to ignore any notice NOT authorised by the CEPU. The CEPU will inform members directly through circulars, emails or, text messages and local reps/delegates of what action they are required to participate in. IGNORE any directions or notices to participate, or not, in industrial action from any other sources including management.

Members are to contact us immediately if any management representative threatens your employment in any way for taking part in Protected Industrial Action authorised by your Union.

Dan Dwyer Branch Secretary
NSW T&S BRANCH, LEICHHARDT
0428 942 878
dan.dwyer@cwunion.net