Visionstream Telecommunications: survey pinpoints EA problems
CWU members and other Visionstream Telecommunications employees have sent some clear messages to the company about why they rejected a proposed Enterprise Agreement last month.
The CWU surveyed employees after the NO vote, asking them to indicate the degree of importance they attached to a number of issues known to be contentious.
The proposed creation of an on-call roster emerged as the single most “very important” issue, though respondents were divided on whether they wanted the roster or not. Planned overtime and shortage of work provisions followed close behind.
Respondents were also unimpressed with the pay rise which, as it stands, delivers 2.5% per year for the first 2 years and 2.5% or CPI, whichever is higher, in the 3rd year.
The CWU reported on the results of the survey at a meeting between Visionstream, the CWU and other employee representatives on Wednesday 1 April – the first such meeting since the ballot.
Visionstream has undertaken to consider what changes might be made to the agreement, especially in relation to the key issues identified, in order to make it more acceptable to employees.
Negotiations are expected to continue during June, with the next meeting scheduled for Thursday 16 June. However it is not expected that a further vote will be scheduled until at least early July.
