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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Workplace Relations Julia Gillard has written to ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence about the proposed non negotiated, non union Telstra Wholesale agreement.



Ms Gillard said she had been advised that “the redundancy entitlements and salary increases for new employees are significantly lower in the proposed agreement than for existing employees.”

“Where an agreement contains significantly different terms and conditions for employees depending on the date they commenced employment, it may be said in reality to constitute two different offers to the two different groups,” wrote Ms Gillard.

Ms Gillard also pointed out that: “The proposed Agreement removes any reference to union consultation when a redundancy decision is made by Telstra.”

The Minister concluded by saying: “In summary, the specific proposals relating to the redundancy entitlements and salary increases for two different groups and the consultation during redundancy do not meet either the spirit or the letter of Labor’s Forward with Fairness policy.”



UNI's affilites, the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU), Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia (APESMA) as well as the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) calls on Telstra to heed the Deputy Prime Minister’s concerns and immediately recommence negotiations with the unions for a Telstra wide agreement.