Sign petition for a single union negotiated agreement
June 25, 2009
Fill out this petition to show your support for all Telstra people having the choice to join one collective agreement.
Sign the petition - CLICK HERE
Negotiations have commenced with Telstra management over a new enterprise agreement.
This is a tribute to the determination and commitment of all members and who have held firm over many months in support of their workplace rights at Telstra.
But the agreement should cover all workers, including those on AWAs.
Over the past couple of years, times have been tough for Telstra workers who have been impacted by:
LESS JOB SECURITY
Thousands of workers have been sacked in recent years, with more to come as jobs are outsourced or sent offshore.
LOWER PAY
It’s been almost two years since thousands of Telstra workers got their last pay rise. In that time, the cost of living has risen over 5%, and all staff are working harder.
HIGHER WORKLOADS
Fewer staff and unrealistic performance targets have led to more intense and more stressful workloads for which employees have not been adequately compensated. All this has happened while Telstra management refused to negotiate a new enterprise agreement.
Now there are signs of a change. There is a long way to go, but new CEO David Thodey and new chairperson Catherine Livingstone have indicated a break with the failed management policies of the past and have moved towards forging a new constructive relationship with employees.
From July 1, the Fair Work Act will reshape the workplace landscape in Australia after a decade of attacks on workers’ rights. Employers will no longer be able to treat their workers without respect by refusing to bargain in good faith.
The new Act gives us the opportunity to give all Telstra staff the choice to be on one collective agreement. We are asking for the right to bargain for all EBA and ECA staff and that all AWA staff have the choice to terminate their AWA’s early and be covered by the agreement.
To take the company forward, the new team needs to mend the bridges with government, regulators and customers. And it needs to treat Telstra workers with respect.
That means all 31,000 employees having the choice of being covered by one agreement
for all staff.
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
EARLY 2008
Unions approach Telstra about negotiating a new enterprise agreement.
JULY 2008
Telstra unilaterally breaks off negotiations.
AUGUST 2008
Leaked internal documents reveal Telstra management has been planning to cut its
wages bill by 15% and slash jobs.
SEPTEMBER 2008
Enterprise agreement expires; workers in the Wholesale and Service Advantage divisions
reject a non-union agreement that would create two classes of employees.
DECEMBER 2008
More than 90% of Telstra workers vote in favour of taking protected industrial action.
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2009
Non-union agreements rolled out by Telstra in work units, most are rejected.
FEBRUARY 2009
Nationwide 24-hour strike.
MAY 2009
New CEO David Thodey ends the Cold War, and says he is prepared to negotiate a new EBA with communications unions.
JUNE 2009
Time for a fresh start.
Sign the petition to show your support for (i) a single union negotiated agreement covering EBA and ECA staff and (ii) a choice for AWA staff to terminate their contracts and be covered by the collective agreement.
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4 Responses to “Sign petition for a single union negotiated agreement”
Got something to say?
I support the following:
1. A single union negotiated agreement covering EBA and ECA staff
2. A choice for AWA staff to terminate their contracts and be covered by the collective agreement.
I don’t want non union members to receive any benefits that may be won in the new EBA. If we can determine the scope of who is covered then clearly non union members should not be included.
Don’t forget that these people were precluded from taking any action by law - then it is only logical that they not be covered by the benefits of the new EBA.
Let them organise themselves - this way they will see the light and join.
a one agreement would be fair for all
After eighteen months as an agency casual, there is still no hope of elusive “permanency”. My capable colleagues are leaving in droves, as hours are merely part time.
Will this limbo ever resolve?