Issue No 119 | 16 November 2001 | |
NewsPrimus Deal Marks New Era in Telcos
The first collective agreement in the telecommunications services sector outside Telstra has been hailed as a breakthrough for workers rights. The CPSU has struck the deal with Primus, the technology partners of the ACTU computer venture Virtual Communities. The agreement - registered under the federal Workplace Relations Act - includes a four per cent wage increase over 12 months ; increased penalties for shift and weekend work and provision of trade union training leave. It also creates a new wage and classification system, jump up rates for labour hire staff and conversion of long term casuals to permanent employment. CPSU state secretary Mal Larsen says the agreement sweats an important benchmark for the CPSU which is organising around bargaining in the sctor. "At the same time we have made an interim award in the telecommunications industry and are negotiating with the Australian Industry Group for a final award to cover all non Telstra/Optus telecommunications service providers," Larsen says. Earlier this year concerns were raised at Primus' attitudes toward unions in the context of the Virtual Communities deal.
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Interview: Out of the Rubble Michael Costa argues that Saturday's election result could have been much, much worse. Unions: Sixty-Forty Are Good Odds! John Robertson argues that while there may be many problems with the ALP, union power is not one of them. Politics: Wrong Way, Go Back Labor's failure in the federal election is the result of more than bad luck. It is the result of a shift to populism that has left the Party bereft of core principles. Campaign Diary: Week Five: All Washed Up If you can stand it, relive the fatefull final week of a most remarkable election campaign. International: Trade Piracy Unmasked As the trade barons met in Qatar to chart out their agenda, George Monbiot looks at the machinations behind the scenes. Factions: The Party's Over Chris Christodoulou renews his call for a breakdown of the factional system to bring new life into the ALP History: The Fall-Out Neale Towart looks back to Labor's reaction to its loss in the 1954 'Petrov election' and finds warnings for today's post mortem. Media: Elite Defeat Rowan Cahill looks at the intellectual paucity in the PM's ongoing attacks on 'elite opinion'. Satire: Crean 'Listens To Australian People': Will Sink Refugee Boats Simon Crean, the most likely candidate to replace Kim Beazley as Labor's leader, says he will take heed of the message sent to the ALP by Australian voters at the Federal Election.
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