CEPU : Connecting our community

CEPU members stand up for better EA offer

(21 April, 2009): Since the decision by CEPU to intensify the industrial action CEPU members have jumped into action.

Here is a quick report on what has occured - you can download a PDF of all this here:

  • Next Generation Network members have taken further action walking out for two days in the week before Easter, and two days the week after Easter.

This follows several days of industrial action earlier.  To quote members in the area:

"All fault queues are exploding, and the huge delays in activation orders are so big, the management are taking desperate steps to try and cover up the impact".

They are currently considering further strike and industrial action.

This action is taking place in all states, and includes the CPSU.

  • Tech Specialist members working on the transmission/PSTN network in Victoria walked out on the Thursday before Easter and returned to work today (Monday 20 April).

This follows earlier action by these members including OT and re-call bans almost every week end since the dispute began.

  • All Tasmanian members walked out on Easter Tuesday.
  • Victorian Bendigo Call Centre workers walked out again for 24 hours today (Monday 20 April).
  • Our North Queensland members in Service Delivery walked out for five days starting Easter Thursday
  • Transmission Techs in Queensland walked out for 5 days starting Easter Thursday.

The following message came by SMS during last weekend:

“Mackay coal terminal optic fibre gone down comms failure. Sol called in but members’ refusing repair.”
  • Other Queensland regional service groups walked out on the Thursday before Easter.
  • Our South Australian and Northern Territory members walked out again on the Friday prior to Easter.
  • Members at the Global Operations Centre are meeting currently to plan further industrial action, after being out on strike several times since the dispute began.
  • Data Techs are meeting to consider further action, after taking action earlier in the dispute.
  • Construction members are meeting to consider further action, after taking action earlier in the dispute.

If your work area wants to take action, or further action, please contact the branch office or union officials direct.

Please keep in mind that you can take legal protected industrial action in the form of a 24 hour strike on any day, or a four hour strike on any day for the last 4 hours of your "shift" (combined with overtime and recall bans up to 12 midnight on the day of the four hour walk out).

This can be very effective action in some situations where cut overs are planned, where there are important planned events, where there are urgent jobs required by management or where management required targets are to be met.

This can also be effective in situations where management try to get members to do the work of members who are out on strike or taking other action.

Also remember that non members can join the union to take part in the action to win a decent EBA for Telstra employees. Many non members have been and are joining, so keep it up.

Telstra management will be forced to negotiate, and they know that better than anybody, despite the nonsense management has been going on with.

However, what they must understand is that the talks must also deliver an agreement acceptable to members.

Have a view? Share it with us via feedback@cepu.asn.au