Workers to vote this month on industrial action
November 10, 2008
Telstra employees will vote later this month on whether to take protected industrial action in support of better wages and conditions, including an unlimited number of 24-hour stoppages.
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission has approved a secret ballot to begin on November 21.
The ballots will be slightly different for members of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union and members of the Community and Public Sector Union.
CEPU members will be asked to authorise an unlimited number of four-hour, 24-hour, 48-hour and indefinite stoppages and indefinite or periodic bans on overtime (paid and unpaid), recalls/call backs, performing higher duties and not attending management meetings.
For CPSU members, the vote will be on an unlimited number of four-hour and 24-hour stoppages.
Workers will take action reluctantly, but have been given no choice because of Telstra management’s confrontational behaviour in recent months.
Employing its usual obstructive and stalling tactics, Telstra had sought a seven-day hearing in the commission.
But Vice-President Lawler heard the application and made his decision within four hours.
The commission has taken a dim view of Telstra’s hardline industrial relations tactics, previously finding that management has failed to negotiate in good faith.
But the commission has also admitted that under existing IR laws there is no strong, independent umpire to enforce good faith bargaining when one party is refusing to negotiate.
In the most recent hearing, Vice-President Lawler said Telstra had “embraced WorkChoices and promoted AWAs in its workforce”.
The secret ballots will close early next month.
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2 Responses to “Workers to vote this month on industrial action”
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[...] Workers will take action reluctantly, but have been given no choice because of Telstra management ’s confrontational behaviour in recent months. Original post [...]
After the last couple of months of what I would call the Phoney War, I am looking forward to vote Yes in the industrial Campaign to demonstrate the commitment of Staff to fair go and an EBA organised on behalf of all staff.