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Issue No. 325 | 22 September 2006 |
A Values Call
Interview: Australia’s Most Wanted Industrial: The Fox and the Contractor Unions: Industrial Wasteland International: Two Bob's Worth Economics: National Interest Environment: The Real Dinosaur History: Only In Spain? Review: Clerk Off
Flying Kangaroo Eyes Passage to India It’s A Secret: Ballot Boosts ABC Campaign City or the Bush? It’s Telstra’s Call WorkChoices Reverse Somersault with Pike Latest Import: Childcare Workers
Legends The Soapbox Obituary Fiction
Aussie Values DOA It’s Not Cricket Kim’s New Platforms Reaping What You Sow Roll Out the Tanks Auntie Hijacked
Labor Council of NSW |
News City or the Bush? It’s Telstra’s Call
Under the new guidelines, ‘regional work’ is now defined as being within 30 kilometres of a town centre rather being based on the services available at the work site, such as guttering and street lamps. The subbies from Downer, which provides technical work for Telstra in regional areas, are now refusing some work in the bush saying they cannot afford it. CEPU Organiser Shane Murphy said Telstra had changed the definition of what makes a rural job, forcing down rates from $105 per job to $80. He said Telstra also reduced the rate for telephone installations where lines already exist from $87 to $38. But the Telco is washing its hands of the decision, attempting to hide behind complex contractual arrangements with Downer. "Telstra is hiding behind these contract arrangements to try to escape blame for this shabby treatment," Murphy said. "The truth is, they are the ones who are moving the goalposts and reducing rates." Murphy said the sub-contractors would continue to refuse rural work on a case-by-case basis until rates were restored. ACTU President Sharan Burrow backed the subcontractors' campaign. "It is wrong for Telstra to unitlaterally decide on the pay rates for sub-contractors," Burrow said. "Surely the subbies should be entitled to negotiate directly with the company they do all their work for." Burrow said the Howard Governments Independent Contractors Act, currently before Parliament, would make it even easier for companies like Telstra to push workers out of the industrial relations system.
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