Some Managers are describing their current position as being “Under Siege”.
The financial community is belting Telstra’s senior management due to their self destruction in relation to their N.B.N. bid. Without doubt, Telstra has given their competitors a massive free kick.
The Telstra workforce is supporting widespread industrial disruption in many areas within the company right across Australia which could continue indefinitely. No wonder management feel they are under siege !!
But, IT’S ALL OF THEIR OWN MAKING.
Right now, Telstra is rolling out a number of their non-Union wage proposals, called ECAs. They are trying to ramp up the selling of these (so called) Agreements by offering them on a more widespread basis by introducing them into ‘Groups’. We are unsure as to the ‘rules’ regarding how or what determines an identifiable Group. It appears that they simply put a mix of people together and call them ‘A Group’.
TELSTRA’S WEAPON OF CHOICE
Their weapon of choice to ‘sell’ their ECA is to attempt to panic people over their January 31st deadline. Do they think Telstra employees are stupid ? This is their third, so-called, final deadline. There was a deadline in November, a deadline in December, and now a deadline in January. Watch this space !!
THE ISSUE OF MONEY.
Linked to the so-called deadline is the issue of money. They say :- “If you don’t decide by January 31st, you won’t get backpay and we will reduce the amount of the pay increase on offer.”
The fact is that if employees sign up to an ECA, they will exclude themselves from any better Union negotiated EBA.
Let’s look at some other comments from management :-
“If you don’t pick up our offer now, then because of the economic downturn you will get a lot less than that which is on offer at the moment.”
You should ask why ?
The solution to the economic crisis is to put more money in people’s pockets – not less. Look at what Governments around the world are doing.
What is more, Trujillo and the rest of the corporate management are telling the market publicly that Telstra’s financials are right on target, and the crisis will have minimal impact on the company’s performance.
Quote…
“Chief Financial Officer John Stanhope told investors, ‘History shows that during periods where the economy slows or even declines, Telstra and its sector continue to grow at rates above GDP ( gross domestic product ). We would expect that to again be the case.’ ”
[The Age, 7 November, 2008.]
Why therefore are they lying to their employees about the need for lower wages ?
“If you don’t vote for the ECA you will lose the Redundancy Agreement because it is due to be scrapped in March, 2009.”
WRONG !!
A deliberate lie. Through CEPU lobbying, the new Labor Government legislated in April, 2008, to do away with the WorkChoices provision that scrapped the Redundancy Agreement from the 9th March, 2009. That was done.
The redundancy agreement simply runs on until changed by agreement, therefore it has been protected by CEPU action. However, if you vote up an ECA, the redundancy protections you currently have will be changed by the non-Union deal.
“Even if you sign up to a non-Union ECA now, the new Federal Government legislation will allow you to get a Union agreement at the end of three years.”
The fact is that we don’t know what legislation will be on the books by 2012. There is a Federal Election in 2010. Even if the management claim could be relied upon, the ECA would virtually lock the union out from effectively representing you for three years; and it prevents you going to the Arbitration Commission for fair treatment, or to enforce the provisions of the agreement.
It’s worth taking a moment to consider why they are doing this :-
1. Telstra is trying to beat the clock – they know new workplace laws are coming in that will not let them get away with their current ECA strategy.
2. If people vote up an ECA, they vote up watered down conditions – did you know the minute someone votes up an ECA they vote out the current Telstra Redundancy Agreement ?
3. ECA Groups are prevented from taking protected industrial action once they have voted up an ECA. You can not take protected industrial action if a wages agreement has been voted up in your workplace and is a current ( non-expired ) Agreement. That means you limit your ability to take any form of action to get a better deal.
You would be reduced to begging for at least three years.
WHAT YOU CAN DO – RIGHT NOW.
1. Let the CEPU know if you are asked to vote on any non-Union ECA.
Telstra has stopped consulting with the Unions on where they are rolling out the ECAs. ( Ask yourself why they would be doing this. )
2. Urge your colleagues to vote ‘NO’ to any non-Union ECA.
Employees value the views of their work colleagues. Your voice has tremendous weight with your work colleagues
3. Finally – you should vote ‘NO’ to any non-Union ECA.
Get a better deal with a Union negotiated Enterprise Agreement where the Union can continue to help and represent you into the future.
Comments are closed.
