ARE YOU A MEMBER?

We will be providing our weekly bulletin only to members shortly as we review and rebuild our email lists. Past members will not be affected. To join our Branch see the online application page.

LIFE MEMBERS HONOURED

On 4th November 2023, we held an informal function to present Life Member Certificates to 5 members and officials. This is in recognition to their long and valuable service to the CWU and ATEA/ATPOA. See the story.

OPTICAL FIBRE CLASSIFICATIONS

We have commenced proceedings in the Victorian Magistrate's Court seeking that a member in the Optical Fibre Group be paid as a CFW7 or in the alternative CFW5. We are seeking backpay for up to 6 years (the legal limit), interest and penalties. The preliminary proceedings are under way with witness statements already exchanged. A 3 day hearing is set for March next year.
Telstra is treating the claim as a test case. It is not a test case per se, and it will not flow to non-members.
But it will facilitate our claims for other T&S members if we are successful.

VENTIA SEEKING TO SLASH PAY AND CONDITIONS

Negotiations for a new EBA at Ventia Telecommunications kicked off last week, with CWU bargaining reps outraged at the company's opening position. Ventia's initial bargaining position, if not improved, would cause members' wages to go backwards, in real terms, at a time when it can be least afforded - along with a number of provisions and protections removed from the Agreement.
Ventia's paltry initial pay offer would see wages increase by just 1.5% annually. With CPI running at 5.4%, Ventia's wage position would leave members 3.9% worse off, year on year, over the life of the proposed Agreement.
Furthermore, Ventia is seeking to:
1. Remove 15% loading for employees performing the work of supervisors;
2. Slash the on call/standby rate to a flat rate payment of just $120 per week;
3. Cut recall engagements to a minimum of just 2 hours, and only once per day, along with removing the multiple recall clause;
4. Lower the rate of payment for work performed on public holidays to double time; and
5. Have the ability to force you to travel an additional 40 minutes each day, in your own unpaid time.
With the price of consumer goods and services surging and interest rates showing no sign of slowing in their upward trend, such an attack on Ventia workers' pay and conditions is a disgrace and comes at a time when it can be least afforded by workers and their families.
Solidarity improves our bargaining power. If somebody you work with is not yet a member of the CWU, there has never been a better time to join. See online application page.

OPTUS - OH WHAT A CIRCUS

The Optus outage this week caught many by surprise. It was not only the technical failure but the public, business and Government reaction that was surprising. Our dependency on the internet and mobile phones came to the fore. Just as Covid exposed the weakness of supply chains, this failure exposed the weakness of the so called network redundancy provisions.
Telstra and TPG must be very amused but probably whispering that "but for the grace of God, go I".
For Optus it was a public relations disaster.
No doubt the bean counters will be telling the technical staff that some funds might be available to strengthen the networks and ensure that there are sufficient technical staff to maintain them. One day bean counters may realise that sales depend on a quality dependable product.

MORE PAIN FOR OPTUS

Optus has failed to convince the Victorian Court of Appeal that the words "for each day during which the offence continues" had no effect in penalty proceedings. The penalty (Maximum about $10,000) applies for each day that the offence continues. The case related to underpayment of long service leave by Optus.
It could be very expensive.
[Late Note] Vic members to be paid LSL - more next week.