Visionstream EA discussions continue
The CWU and other bargaining representatives met with Visionstream Telecommunications (formerly Silcar Telepower) on 16 June to try to address employee concerns with the proposed new Enterprise Agreement (EA).
Employees rejected the proposed EA in a ballot last month. Since then the CWU has been working with members and other employees to identify the key barriers to reaching agreement. These have included the size of the pay rise, a new standby roster, measures to deal with periods where there is a shortage of work and planned overtime provisions.
The meeting of 16 June made progress on a number of these issues although there has been no movement yet on the pay rise or on the standby provisions.
Management has also agreed to consider provisions relating to the contracting out of work. The CWU raised this issue in the wake of Visionstream Telecommunications decision to make some 40 staff redundant.
We want to see a commitment from the company to direct employment rather than have work contracted out as is increasingly happening in the industry.
A further meeting is scheduled for early July.
