The Guardian 11 February, 2009

Telstra strike in Vic suspended

A national 24 hour strike by Telstra workers on Tuesday was suspended in Victoria due to the appalling bushfire tragedy unfolding across the state, but wnt ahead as planned in other states and territories.

The leadership of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) and of the Community and the Public Sector Union (CPSU) decided to postpone all industrial action in Victoria to allow their members to repair essential telecommunications services damaged by the fires.

However, the 24 hour national stoppage - the first at Telstra for more than a decade - will proceed in other states.

"Due to the appalling fire tragedy unfolding in Victoria the leadership of CEPU and CPSU have advised that they intend to suspend industrial action and call off public events in Victoria," said ACTU assistant secretary Tim Lyons.

"This is in line with the traditional policy in relation to the protection of 'life and limb' during industrial action.

"Our members play an important role in maintaining emergency services and public safety infrastructure and will be needed at work. Our members in Victoria believe that serving customers and restoring essential infrastructure are the main priority at this time, and will set aside their dispute with management in a spirit of co-operation."

Mr Lyons said industrial action and public events outside Victoria will continue as planned.

This includes a public event scheduled to take place outside the T [life] store at 400 George Street in Sydney.

"Our members remain committed to winning a fair union agreement and the campaign will continue in Victoria in due course," Mr Lyons said.

"Workers at Telstra have not had a pay rise for almost 18 months.They want management to respect their rights to work and come to the negotiating table with their union representatives.

"Our members will seek to minimise any disruption, but have been forced into this action by management's intransigence."

The CEPU, CPSU and Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia represent more than 8,000 Telstra workers. In conjunction with the ACTU they are calling on Telstra management to re-enter negotiations over a new collective agreement and transition arrangements for staff on the former Howard government's AWA non-union contracts.

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