NATIONAL WAGE CASE

The Fair Work Commission announced a 5.2% increase to the minimum wage from 1 July 2022. This increase equates to an extra $40 per week in the pocket of a full-time worker on the minimum wage.

For workers who are reliant on award wages, the increase will be4.6% or $40 per week, whichever is higher.

This is a huge and proud win for the union movement, which fought hard for this increase, standing up for the quarter of Australian workers who rely on this process for a pay rise. The decision is going to make a big difference for so many workers, but we still have work to do.

Working people are feeling the serious consequences of nearly 10 years of inaction by the previous Government-lack of wage growth is a critical issue for our economy.

It's everyday people like you, - people power - who will make sure we build a better, fairer society, and an economy that supports working people and our communities. That starts with ensuring workers have decent wages

WAGE CASE AND YOUR EBA

The National Wage case decision increases the minimum wage to $21.38 per hour - $812.60 per week. Award rates are also increased by 4.6%.

However the rates in an EBA are not affected. The EBA provides for pay increases each year.

The next increases for our major EBAs are as follows:
Telstra - 2.5% in October 22
Post - 3.0% in September 22 (But see Bulletin 20 where it may be much higher 5.2% or more)
Optus - 5.2% in July 22 (but only minimum rates)

ROSTER CHANGES GAT NETWORK & IT

Telstra has advised of a proposal to implement a new roster for the Government Assurance team (GAT) in Networks and IT.

The GAT team provides 24x7 support to Federal Government customers that are utilising a range of Telstra products and services. The team currently operates in a 4 week rotating roster consisting of 9, 10, 11 and 12 hour shifts.

The proposed change in the GAT is to introduce a 1 week rotating roster with shifts of 8 hour 21 minute duration (including 1 hour unpaid lunch break) with two days off each calendar week.

The proposed roster change will impact 9 (Band 3ii / TW7) employees. All impacted employees are based in ACT (7) and Sydney (2). If a decision is made to proceed, employees would be provided with 3 months' notice.

This proposal would also result in several expected benefits including flexibility for planned/unplanned leave, alignment with customer workload, increased opportunity for employee development, shift handover and connection within the team.

If any members are affected by the change, please contact me asap so that consultation can take place.

KORDIA FIELD STAFF TRANSITION TO EBA

Following discussions with the Union, legacy Kordia Field & Warehouse employees will transition to the Visionstream Fieldwork Agreement 2019-2023. This is a good outcome for these employees who were the subject of a transfer of business and will now end up on better terms and conditions. The transition will be effective as of 1 July 2022.

RETAIL SELF CLEANING (BY STAFF)

Telstra has now made a final decision to proceed with the initial decision regarding the Retail Store Self clean model announced on 6 June 2022.