EPA2009A Better Deal!
The Optus Employment PartnershipAgreement (EPA) is up for a vote. But should you Vote Yes or Vote No?
Your Union here at Optus, the CEPU, has been negotiating with Optus Senior HR management on behalf of our members and all Optus employees for a new EPA.
Following these negotiations we are saying
Vote Yes for the new EPA because it gives you better rights at work.
This is the result of a major union campaign starting way back in 2005 to get Fair Work Australia laws.
The EPA isn't perfect. For example, we know that a lot of employees have had problems
We also wanted fairer and more clear policies on setting targets and deciding PDRs and bonuses, with more involvement from the staff. But Senior managers want to leave all those decisions in their hands.
We wanted it to be clear in the agreement that for consultation to be meaningful employees really have to be able to influence the outcomes and that Optus was going to continue to pay the equivalent of 12 weeks paid maternity leave on top of any government paid parental leave scheme. But the Senior HR managers didn't want to promise that.
But we think that on balance, with your better rights to be represented by your union, we can help you get a great outcome if you ever have problems at work.
So, make sure you have your say on the EPA and Vote Yes!
JOURNEY COVER NOW OFFERED FREE!!!!!
In addition to the changesin the EPA, the CEPU has been pushing the Federal Government to reinstitute the right for Optus workers to claim workers compensation for injuries sustained on the way to and from work and duringmeal breaks. In the meantime we've organised that in the eventof such an accident CEPU members (but only CEPU members) are now insured at no cost to themselves.
Is it Getting Hot in Here?
Our changing climate is one of the biggest challenges we face as workers, as a nation and as a globe. For decades scientists have been
warning of the dangers of climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions. This yearit is important that our leaders step up to meet this challenge.
Unions have been working hard at both national and international levels to accelerate real, workable and equitable solutions to this major problem.
Strong action on climate change will create hundreds of thousands of clean energy jobs forAustralians and help our economic prosperity if "dinosaurs" in big business and politics stop blocking action on climate change. Unions want Australia to become a world leader in the emerging industries of the future but we urgently need new laws that promote the necessary investment in clean energy jobs.
Clean energy jobs creation depends on Australia moving forward over the coming weeks and months with strong climate policy both at home and on the international stage in Copenhagen this December.
The scientists tell us that if we achieve a global agreement on climate change in December at the Copenhagen negotiations, we may be able to save the Barrier Reef, stop 100 million people from being displaced and minimise the number and intensity of cyclones, bushfires, floods and droughts.
Unions have a proud history of campaigning on environmental issues. But rarely has the stakes been as high as they are now. That is why unions around the country are joining together to encourage members to be part of the climate solution.Through connecting together as workers we can build a low emissions future and protect ourselves, and generations to come from the terrible consequences of dangerous climate change.
Australian unions are committed to being part of the solution to the climate crisis, and to building a clean economy that will provide prosperity to future generations.
Keep an eye out for the upcoming CEPU campaign on climate change!
Training & Development - Are You Getting Enough?
Optus employees have been asking for more training and development. But it is falling on deaf ears
A recent survey by theOptus union, the CEPU, has shown that Optus staff list training and development as one of their top three issues at work.
People are having difficulty accessing the training theywant and need. Across the company and especially in technical areas, training is essential to maintain skill levels, keep pace with industry changes and enhance job satisfaction.
Repeatedly Optus staff told us that the lack of training at the company makes them feel like they aren't really valued. Courses on “Writing Business Emails” don't really cut it. Plus a lack of staff to cover time away fortraining makes it pretty impossible.
We see training as a major issue for communication workers. We have representatives on industry training boards and are working on developing better access to skill recognition and improvement for our members through industry training organisations.
LGBTI Rights Widely Supported
A recent Galaxy poll commissioned has shown that 85% of Australians supported the introduction of laws to protect against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Unions have long campaigned on issues of human rights and equality for all workers, including being instrumental in the introduction of new superannuation and employment laws for same-sex couples late last year.
Unions have a strong and vibrant LGBTI community including an annual float in the Mardi Gras. If you want to get onboard just get in touch with us!
Management Discretion-How Does it Work?
So, your Manager caught you snogging your co-worker at the Christmas party and never mentioned it again. But is this what they mean by "Management Discretion?"
The new EPA relies a lot on this idea of "management discretion". Your PDR rating, the setting of targets and KPIs, your bonuses and even how much sick leave or carers' leave you can take all comes down to this idea of managerial discretion.
Firstly, what it is not.
- Management discretion isn't arbitrary decision making.
- It isn't decisions made based on who a manager likes or doesn't like on any given day.
- It isn't decisions made on what sort of mood the manager is in or what phase of the moon we are experiencing.
- It is not "by the King's pleasure".
- It definitely should never be something that makes you so scared, you just toe the line, even when you aren't happy.
So what is it?
When it works well, management discretion is the the flexibility managers have to take into consideration all the issues that might be going on and come up with creative solutions to deal with them. So you have had the flu and use up all your 10 days sick leave. Then worse luck, you have a skiing accident (preferably somewhere exotic like the Alps and thankfully on your last day following a gorgeous holiday,
with full travel insurance) and need to have a bit of extra time off. Your managers can look at the situation and think "Poor thing, take some extra sick leave, rest and get back to work fighting fit and grant you more paid sick leave. What they can't do is think "That guy back-chatted me at the meeting the other day, now is my chance to get my revenge" and deny you extra sick leave.
Management Discretion needs to be exercised within a strong framework of policies and procedures to make sure it operates fairly. It should never be applied in a way that is unfair or makes an employee feel that they have to behave in a way that they don't agree with just so they don't annoy their manager and get a bad PDR.
A well-trained, well supported manager can use the flexibilty of managerial discretion tofind clever solutions to problems that build unity and trust at work. But if you feel like this isn't happening and manager is making decisions outside the proper framework based on who they like or whether they had a bad night's sleep, then the EPA has great new mechanisms to get issues addressed, with union support, right from the start.
The Communications Workers Union (CEPU) is the union for Optus employees.Unions provide their members with information, advice and support to get organised in the workplace. Unions are based on the simple idea that much more can be achieved by working together. Unions give employees a stronger voice at work and in the community. There are loads of benefits to union membership.
Didn't know there was a union at Optus? Luckily these Optus people did!*
These are just some of the countless examples of how being an Optus union member makes a difference.
*obviously we changed our members' names to protect their privacy!
Want to find out more?
Get in on the action, fax or post this slip back for more info
Fax: 9281 9494 Post: L1/741 George Street, Sydney 2000 or SMS your name and 'union' to 0438 207 708
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Tel: 9281 2811
SMS: 0438 207 708
Email: julia.cepu@gmail.com
www.ceputelserv.asn.au
Authorised by Ian McCarthy, Branch Secretary