Telstra union rumbles ballot rort

Date: 18 April 2000

Telstra and its IT subsidiary Advantra were accused of rorting the ballot for an Enterprise Agreement in proceedings before the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in Melbourne on Friday.

CPSU told the Industrial Commission that 300 union members in IT Network Services were to be denied a vote in a non-union agreement that would cover their work because Telstra and Advantra don't want their no votes to be included in the ballot.

IT employees have been told their jobs are to be transferred to Advantra before June. Meanwhile Telstra and Advantra have been secretly scheming to rush through an agreement before June to ensure that the unionised IT staff transferring from Telstra do not get a vote in the 800 person ballot.

Their scheme came unstuck when CPSU members got wind of the plot and raised the issue with the union.

Stephen Jones, Assistant Secretary of the CPSU Commications Section, said, "Not since the Bjelke-Peterson Government rorted Queensland has such a blatant electoral gerrymander been attempted."

The CPSU took the matter to the Industrial Commission to have the ballot postponed until after the transfer of jobs occurs. Telstra's lawyers tried to delay the hearing by having it referred to a Full Bench of the Commission.

This move backfired when the Commission allowed the referral but directed that the Electoral Commission not declare the vote and send the ballot boxes to the Commission until further notice.

The case will continue in the AIRC in Melbourne today (Tuesday 18/04).

"CPSU is working hard to ensure that Telstra management is held accountable and doesn't slur the name of the company through these blatantly undemocratic rorts. With the continued support of staff we will see a return to fair employment practice and workplace justice in Telstra." added Mr Jones.

Stephen Jones 0417 261 152

For further information

Contact:	Steve Jones
Union:	CPSU - National Office
Phone:	0417 261 152

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