Telecommunications
Govt changes legislation to protect your vote in Telstra
(17 June, 2009): As you know we've been lobbying to ensure that proposed changes to workplace laws would not render null and void your vote for protected industrial action in Telstra.
We've previously reported on the steps the CEPU took to ensure your vote would be protected.
Late yesterday, the Federal Government moved amendments in the Senate to protect the rights of employees who previously voted for protected industrial action as part of a campaign to secure a new workplace agreement.
The good news is that late last night the Senate agreed to the amendments.
That means that your vote in Telstra is protected, and if needed we can apply to the new version of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission - Fair Work Australia - to recognise the results of the previous ballot if we need to resume the industrial action campaign down the track.
Focus on getting an agreement
Regardless of these events, let's be perfectly clear: the CEPU is commited to bargaining with Telstra.
We want to see an agreement finalised - and finalised quickly.
We welcome the recent steps taken by Telstra to re-start negotiations before 1 July.
We hope that we can achieve a settlement soon.
The amendments to the government's workplace laws only mean that we can avoid the costs of wasted time and expense in holding a new ballot.
The main thing that we all need to work towards is an agreement - and the next step in that process takes place today, when unions and Telstra meet again to resume talks.
Our thanks goes to the CEPU members who wrote to their local MP on this issue - and to the Senators and Members who took up our cause (along with the ACTU who pressed the case for us).
This is "people power" in action!
We also congratulate and thank the Federal Government and Deputy Prime Minister Gillard, who took steps to examine the issues raised on behalf of our members in Telstra and acted to ensure employees weren't inadvertently affected by the proposed laws.
Have a view about all this? Let us know via feedback@cepu.asn.au