Telstra staff to take protected industrial action on Tues 16 Dec
10 December 2008, 4:26pm
CPSU and CEPU members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking protected industrial action to win a union collective agreement with Telstra. And they need your support.
CPSU members will take action in the form of a 4-hour stoppage before each members' usual starting time on Tuesday morning.
CPSU National President Louise Persse said:
"The purpose of this limited protected industrial action is to highlight Telstra management's failure to make an agreement - not to inconvenience Telstra's long-suffering customers. To beat expected delays, we would strongly advise customers to avoid dealing with Telstra on Tuesday morning.
"Telstra staff are taking this action because they are ‘over' being bullied and ignored by Telstra management. Despite having more than 12 months to get their act together, Telstra management have failed to listen to their own employees and negotiate a union collective agreement.
"Telstra can be a bully. Just look at the way it treats its competitors, the regulators, its customers, the community and now it own staff. Sometimes you have to stand up to bullies.
"New industrial laws are coming, and Telstra really needs to change its approach to reflect the new environment.
"The smart thing for Telstra management to do now would be to give up its pointless crusade against making a union agreement, and focus on making a decent deal that provides better pay and conditions for staff, and better productivity for the company.
"What staff want is not unreasonable. The right to have your union help negotiate your pay and conditions is not unreasonable - it should be something beyond dispute in a civilised Western democracy.
"We are urging all eligible CPSU members to get behind this action and show Telstra management their behaviour is unacceptable," said Ms Persse.
What you can do
Use this action form to send a message of support to Telstra staff and/or a message of concern to Telstra management
Where possible, avoid any dealings with Telstra on Tuesday
Information for Telstra employees
To take part in the CPSU Telstra protected industrial action, you must be a CPSU member, and working on the enterprise agreement or on an expired AWA.
If you are on a current AWA, you are not eligible to take part directly. However, we will be organising support activities in many locations that you can take part in with your colleagues.
A detailed Question and Answer document about taking protected industrial action is attached. If you have any further questions or concerns, we are here to help. Please speak to your delegate, your local CPSU organiser, or call the CPSU Member Service Centre on 1300 137 636. .
Contact details
Louise Persse National President Ph: 1300 137 636
Comments(51)
Posted by:Anon - 17 Dec 2008, 1:02pm Sol is a greedy tool - or to put it another way Sol is a capitalist HOWEVER you can probably do without the pathetic racist dig - apart from anything else he's not actually (and never has been) from Mexico
Posted by:Wayne - 16 Dec 2008, 2:09pm Sol you are a tosser, I worked for Telstra for 14 years and when you started it was the beginning of the end. I saw a good company slowly disintegrate; you have screwed the staff and the company to the ground. The way you treat customers like crap is disgusting. Thankfully I am no longer employed with you and now have a fantastic employer. Go back to Mexico where you belong and drink tequila and eat burritos to your hearts content with your multi million dollar package while you try to take away all the staffs rights and entitlements.
Posted by:Kerry Edsall - 16 Dec 2008, 11:31am Telstra workers - you're an inspiration to us all. You have my support.
Posted by:Ian - 16 Dec 2008, 12:11am Go Kick Ass Guys - I support you all the way - into the 21st Century - is this Australia - or a 3rd World Nation?
Posted by:Frustrated AWAer - 15 Dec 2008, 9:46pm I was one of the unlucky few who did not have a choice and had to sign a New Start AWA. Ever since that day work life has been miserable for me and others who also had to sign this joke of a contract. I and other AWAers will be showing our support for the blokes who have a chance to negotiate a fair deal tomorrow by "Going Slow". Telstra is a sinking ship and we just can't keep bailing like this forever.
Sol is a greedy tool - or to put it another way Sol is a capitalist HOWEVER you can probably do without the pathetic racist dig - apart from anything else he's not actually (and never has been) from Mexico
Sol you are a tosser, I worked for Telstra for 14 years and when you started it was the beginning of the end. I saw a good company slowly disintegrate; you have screwed the staff and the company to the ground. The way you treat customers like crap is disgusting. Thankfully I am no longer employed with you and now have a fantastic employer. Go back to Mexico where you belong and drink tequila and eat burritos to your hearts content with your multi million dollar package while you try to take away all the staffs rights and entitlements.
Telstra workers - you're an inspiration to us all. You have my support.
Go Kick Ass Guys - I support you all the way - into the 21st Century - is this Australia - or a 3rd World Nation?
I was one of the unlucky few who did not have a choice and had to sign a New Start AWA. Ever since that day work life has been miserable for me and others who also had to sign this joke of a contract. I and other AWAers will be showing our support for the blokes who have a chance to negotiate a fair deal tomorrow by "Going Slow". Telstra is a sinking ship and we just can't keep bailing like this forever.