Telstra is repeating history by rushing through non-union agreements in a race to beat the introduction of fairer workplace laws.
Want the proof?
The Federal Government has completed a review of Telstra’s proposed non-union agreements.
It has put Telstra’s non-union agreements up for scrutiny against the proposed new workplace laws.
And guess what? Telstra’s offer is seriously lacking in many areas.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Workplace Relations Julia Gillard has written to the ACTU about the proposed non negotiated, non union Telstra Wholesale agreement. [ Download a copy of her response here ]
Ms Gillard said she had been advised that “the redundancy entitlements and salary increases for new employees are significantly lower in the proposed agreement than for existing employees.”
“Where an agreement contains significantly different terms and conditions for employees depending on the date they commenced employment, it may be said in reality to constitute two different offers to the two different groups,” wrote Ms Gillard.
Ms Gillard also pointed out that: “The proposed Agreement removes any reference to union consultation when a redundancy decision is made by Telstra.”
The Minister concluded by saying: “In summary, the specific proposals relating to the redundancy entitlements and salary increases for two different groups and the consultation during redundancy do not meet either the spirit or the letter of Labor’s Forward with Fairness policy.
Please bear this in mind:
- Last year, when Telstra tried rushing through a non-union agreement ahead of the Federal Election, employees rejected the offer. Smart move.
Nearly 12 months later – Telstra’s trying to play the same trick but nothing has changed.
Telstra is trying to beat the clock before being forced to come back to the negotiating table by the new workplace laws.
Ask yourself the same question Telstra employees asked themselves last year – “why sign up to these low-offer non-union agreements when we can be in a stronger position in the future?”
You deserve better – reject the non-union agreements for a better deal.
Got a view on the Telstra Non-Union deal? Email feedback@cepu.org
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