Telecommunications

New Telstra travel allowance rates applicable from 1 July 2011

The signing of Definitive Agreements between Telstra, NBN Co and the Commonwealth for the rollout of the National Broadband Network is an historic moment for the Australian telecommunications sector but must be accompanied by training for workers and a guarantee of secure jobs. CEPU divisional secretary Cameron Thiele said the NBN was a massive project which would create employment opportunities

Read more

CEPU members in Telstra will be receiving two salary increases in the second half of this year. One increase will take effect on 1 July 2011, the next 1 October 2011. Please click here to find a listing of all EBA designations and their corresponding rates of pay as of both effective dates. (Adobe Reader required)

Optus CEO, Paul O’Sullivan, has put forward a number of controversial proposals for the future management and governance of the National Broadband Network (NBN). In line with Optus’ increasing concern that the NBN may become “another lumbering monopoly”, O’Sullivan suggested that its management could be put out to tender either on a national basis or even state-by-state to keep it

Read more

Skills related to both the construction and use of the National Broadband Network should be put high on the national training agenda the CEPU has said. The comments were made in the Communication Division’s submission to a House of Representatives inquiry into the role and potential of the NBN.  The inquiry will focus on the role that superfast broadband can

Read more

The CEPU have met again with Telstra to discuss how its $100 million government grant for NBN-related training will be used. The CEPU has been concerned to ensure that it had a role in oversighting the training programme. The union wants to make sure that any of its members affected by the NBN project have the best possible opportunities for

Read more

Members would be familiar with a situation last year which saw subbies all over the country walk off the job due to unfair rates. Subbies were being paid below industry standard rates for “Digipath” installations. Eventually, a fair rate – with back pay – was afforded to subbies for installing the Digipath devices. Angry Foxtel subbies have again raised the

Read more

The CEPU has made representations to Telstra about the impact of the Reach restructure on its members. In January, Telstra announced that it would reorganise its international business which since 2000 it has conducted through Reach, a joint venture with Hong Kong-based PCCW. Under those arrangements, Telstra’s international cable and gateway assets were placed in Reach. Now Telstra and PCCW

Read more

The CEPU continues to be engaged with Telstra over the new payroll system introduced last year. The CEPU and other Telstra unions met with Telstra for the second time this year to discuss progress on addressing the many problems that the new system has created. These problems have included incorrect taxation deductions, over and under payments, incorrect penalty/overtime payments and

Read more

Telstra is considering outsourcing as many as 1200 more “back-of-house” jobs, according to press reports earlier this month. The Australian Financial Review said that the plan was part of Project New which aims to cut costs and simplify the company’s operations – while at the same time supposedly improving customer service. The AFR report said that a Request for Proposal

Read more