Optus award discussions
Discussions between the CWU and Optus over the Optus modern award continue, with a meeting being held on Tuesday 31 March.
The meeting was concerned mainly with the minimum wage rates in the award.
Last year when the application for a modern enterprise award was heard, the Fair Work Commission questioned whether these rates were properly made.
This is a technical issue dating back to the National Wage Case in 1989. It has no impact on the actual wage rates in Optus which are set by the Optus enterprise agreement (the Employee Partnership Agreement).
However the minimum rates in the award do provide a “floor” for the Better Off Overall Test (BOOT) which is applied when new agreements are taken to the FWC for approval.
There is also a small number of other issues about award content that were not resolved last year, relating to shift loadings, rest breaks and allowances. The CWU has indicated that it wants to pursue these issues. Optus and the CWU may approach the Commission for assistance if they cannot be resolved.
