TELSTRA EBA HOOK-UPS
Next Meeting Thursday 18 July 7.15pm to 8.00pm. Meeting ID is 885831483. No password.
+ Simply dial in: 02 8015 2088 and enter the Meeting ID
+ Use your phone app (Down app "ZOOM") and enter the Meeting ID
+ Click this link: https://zoom.us/j/885831483

EBA CLAUSE 45

If your employment with another entity constitutes a Transfer of Employment, you will be entitled to retrenchment benefits unless. you are offered a Suitable Position with a Subsidiary of Telstra, you reject that offer, and are subsequently retrenched.

CFW6 ACTION - TELSTRA FIELD STAFF DOWNGRADED?
We have received reports that Telstra is moving to downgrade staff. We need to check this out as there may be breaches of the EBA. We ask that you contact us with details (in confidence if necessary) so that we can assess the situation. We understand that Telstra downgraded a number of Parramatta InfraCo staff from Band 7 to Band 6. Contact us on the phone number below.

UNIFORMS - OUR POSITION PUT
We have met and advised Telstra of our position following the threat of stand down if staff did not pay for and turn up in the Telstra nominated uniform. We said:
+ General principle - If a uniform is required Telstra must make reasonable reimbursement
+ We assume cost of each pair of jeans (including skirt) cannot exceed $120
+ Full time staff - need several pairs - reasonable number and each reimbursed to $120
+ If uniforms cost more, Telstra to consider on a case by case basis
+ Telstra to cover replacements because of wear and tear when reasonably required
+ New staff - general principle should apply

TELSTRA UNIFORMS - LATEST POSITION
Telstra has moved a little way from their "good news - you pay" position. Some features are
+ Employees may choose to wear professional length skirts that are dark indigo or navy in colour, instead of jeans.
+ Telstra will reimburse employees up to the following allocated amounts:
+ Telstra will pay and provide polo option
+ FT/PT/Casual employees who work 4 days pw will be reimbursed for up to $120 for their jeans.
+ PT/Casual employees who work less than 4 days pw will be reimbursed up to $60 for their jeans.
Despite progress, we are still some way apart. All uniform costs must be reimbursed by Telstra. Contact us if you are out of pocket.

TELSTRA OUT BUT IS INFRACO IN?
From Fairfax Press: ACCC chairman Rod Sims has added further doubt to any Telstra-NBN tie up. "It would be inappropriate [to sell the NBN] to any of the telco retailers, Telstra included," Mr Sims said. When Telstra created InfraCo, as part of a broader turnaround effort last year, it positioned the telco for a future deal with the NBN Co or an acquisition. Telstra chairman John Mullen said in 2018 that it would be a potential "solution" for the government should it look to privatise the network. Despite the Minister ruling out involvement from internet retailers on policy grounds, telco sources still believed Telstra could structure its infrastructure arm, InfraCo, as a separate entity to buy the network and not fall foul of the rules. But Mr Sims, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's chairman, has now made it clear he would be against any attempt from Telstra to buy the network - even through another entity. When asked whether Telstra might be able to buy the taxpayer-funded network in a scenario where InfraCo was separated out from the main business, he said: "We would not want any retailer involved in any entity that bought the NBN."
The plan to block Telstra and other telcos from buying the network has been welcomed by rival mobile and internet retailers. Singtel Optus vice president of regulatory and public affairs Andrew Sheridan said in a statement that the telco "fully supports" Mr Fletcher's view. "A foundational objective of the NBN was to deliver structural reform of the fixed industry and ensure that competition and consumer interests cannot be held to ransom by a dominant vertically integrated telecommunications company," Mr Sheridan said. "Proposals to allow Telstra or its related entities to own the NBN are contrary to the NBN policy framework and should be dismissed out of hand." Vodafone Australia director of strategy Dan Lloyd said the NBN Co was established as "an open access wholesale-only network to address the barriers to competition from Telstra's historic control of the network". "Any privatisation must ensure it remains a wholesale business so that the extensive efforts and taxpayer funding of NBN are not undermined," Mr Lloyd said. A spokeswoman for Macquarie Telecom Group welcomed Mr Fletcher's comments, saying it was "encouraging" he had confirmed the NBN Co wouldn't be privatised any time soon as the network needed time to complete the roll out and establish a sustainable pricing model. "Separating the monopoly infrastructure connecting homes to communications networks to drive competition and better services and prices was a core reason behind the creation of the NBN," she said in a statement. The NBN Co and Telstra both declined to comment <

HELP US - SAFE AT WORK SURVEY
Everyone has a right to a safe workplace and to arrive home at the end of the working day. But yet every week four people are killed and thousands more seriously injured in Australian workplaces. Everyone one of these is preventable! Working people along with their unions are fighting for improved workplace laws and safer workplaces. As part of this work, we are inviting all workers to complete the safe at work survey. The survey will only take a few minutes to complete but the information you provide will be invaluable. The more responses we receive the better informed our workplace health and safety work will be. Once you have completed the survey, please ask your friends and workmates to take the survey too. Survey link

OHS NEWS
You can stay up to date with the Australian Unions campaign for safer workplaces by signing up for OHS News here. OHC News

WATCH WHAT YOU SAY ON MSTEAMS
Telstra has moved away from the Skype Lync application used for messaging, seeing who is on line and sharing screens etc. This has been replaced by MSTeams. Because MSTeams has problems being used in conjunction with phone bridges some sections of management are steering towards conducting meetings just using the MSTeams app and dispensing with the phone bridge. This means that if you are not logged on to your PC you need to call in using your phone or tablet using the MSTeams app. It appears that when using this app, your conversations can be recorded. Presumably you can be called by somebody on MSTeams and your conversation is recorded without you knowing about it. You might check and exercise some caution when using this app. Let us know your experience.

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
0447 265 443 reception@cwunion.net Administrative eg payments, applications, change of details

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