JOINT NSW VIC T&S PHONE HOOKUP
We are joining with our fellow workers in Victoria in a regular telephone hook-up.
John Ellery (Vic Branch Secretary) hosts this meeting. I will also attend. All members welcome.
TELSTRA PROTECTED ACTION - HOOK-UP TUESDAY - 9 APRIL - 7.30pm
Dial In: (03) 8687 0635 or (02) 9696 0774 Guest Code: (see email)

NEW PROTECTED ACTION
PERIODIC STOPPAGE OF WORK
Members are directed to engage in 3 periods of work stoppages
- starting 7.00 am to finish 8.00 am on these days
- Thursday 11th April,
- Friday 12th of April
- Monday 15th April.
Each stoppage will be a maximum 60 minutes duration, and apply to staff who have a work provided vehicle and are dispatched via an automatic dispatch terminal.

NEW PROTECTED ACTION
24 Hr STOPPAGE OF WORK
Members are directed to stop work on Wednesday 10th April from 1201 am to 1159 pm.

IN THE MEDIA - TELSTRA
Telstra strike to bolster ACTU rally - David Marin-Guzman Workplace Editor - Australian Financial Review
Thousands of Telstra workers are expected to walk off the job on Wednesday in a strike coinciding with ACTU's rallies protesting against the Coalition ahead of the federal election. The CWU notified the telecommunications giant of 24-hours protected industrial action this Wednesday to protest the telco's 1.5% pay offer and is urging workers to use the stoppage to attend the ACTU rally held in Melbourne that day as well as Perth, Adelaide and Canberra.
The stoppages, which will affect the telco's maintenance services, are one of many walk-offs expected to occur as the ACTU hopes for 250,000 unionists to attend nationwide rallies to change industrial relations laws. Nurses, teachers, wharfies and construction workers are expected to form the bulk of the union members attending the Melbourne rally on Wednesday in addition to the 1800 Telstra union members in the state.
In a message to members, the CWU Vic branch said "the purpose of the stoppage is to advance the claims for your EBA". "Members are encouraged if available to attend the 'change the rules' rally in Melbourne that starts at 10.30am from trades hall." CWU Vic assistant secretary John Ellery said the two events were "clearly separate arrangements". "We are focused on putting more pressure on the actual enterprise bargaining discussions," he said. "But it does coincide no doubt with the national rallies."
He said workers' concerns over low wage growth "were exactly why the ACTU commenced the Change The Rules campaign". "All the economists are saying you've got to pay workers more money and then employers are saying they're not going to pay more. It's a contradiction in capitalism." Telstra's more than 30,000 employees help service teller machines for major banks, booking systems for airlines and major
The strike comes as the telco has been subject to work bans and a previous 24-hour stoppage over the past three weeks and recently lost a Fair Work Commission case claiming the unions' industrial action was unauthorised.
The company's automated dispatch system has been particularly affected by field technicians refusing to log on 30 minutes prior to start time, which in turn has caused backlogs in jobs and malfunctions in the system.

OPTUS BAULKS AT MEETING
Members at Belrose have raised a number of concerns following staff cuts and the addition of new responsibilities. Local discussions did not resolve the matter as the changes appear to be coming down from higher management. I sought a meeting with Optus and gave them an agenda. I asked that we meet at Belrose so that a member or two could attend as well. Optus has expressed its preference in the response below. We will respond and express our "preference" that we will represent members at a meeting. We are here for members and will offer to represent you as appropriate.

OPTUS RESPONSE
I note your request for a meeting with me in relation to a number of items. Optus prefers to deal with its employees directly in the first instance as this is often the fastest and best way to resolve issues. As such, it is recommended that this is done through employees raising their concerns to their immediate manager, or if this is not appropriate, to their next level manager. Following this, if this is not appropriate or the matter remains unresolved after unsuccessful attempts to resolve it at the local level, the employee ought to raise their matter to HR for assistance. The information you have supplied is broad, and is unclear to me what the specific concerns are and what attempts have been made to resolve them. I respectfully request that you supply this detail in relation to the Engineers and Satellite Controllers, or, direct your members to explore the options outlined above for resolution.

10 APR 2019 -CHANGE THE RULES RALLY
See Change The Rules Home Page Australia has a crisis of insecure work, low wages and an unfair bargaining system and Scott Morrison's Liberals are to blame. That's why working people are taking action with political protests for wage rises and better job security. Protests are taking place in cities and regions across the country on Wed 10 April to stand up for the fair go. Members who are not on duty are encouraged to attend the rally. In NSW:
10:30AM Adcock Park, West Gosford
11:00AM David Coleman's Office Revesby
12:00PM Garema Place, Canberra
1:00PM Burwood Park, Burwood

VIP - CONTACTING US - NEW PHONE NUMBER
Please note the following changes as we simplify our phone numbers
0428 942 878 dan.dwyer@cwunion.net Dan Dwyer Secretary/Lawyer - for industrial matters & advice
0428 942 878 reception@cwunion.net Administrative eg payments, applications, change of details

Authorised by Dan Dwyer Branch Secretary
CWU Telecommunications & Services Branch, Leichhardt, NSW.