The most important asset of a company is, its PEOPLE. Telstra is to be congratulated for doing the right thing by them without prompts from unions. Julia Gillard, please Nota Bene.

Well apparently Telstra only started talks with it’s wholesale staff on 4 August 2008. And now like magic an agreement appears on 25 August…Wow Telstra can talk to it’s staff about what they want in an agreement and one appears like magic in just three weeks…Forgive me for being a touch sceptical about the timing... Also of interest…http://yourrightsattelstra.com/?p=27

I never judge a book by its cover, but the book you peddle leaves little to the imagination: "Popular Articles"! To whom?... "New Leaked Slides: Telstra workers face 15% pay cut"..... "Leaked slides 2: Telstra wants you to work harder, and take a real pay cut" Wakey, wakey this is 2008 not 1908.

Vasso you may never judge a book by its cover, but it seems the only book you are reading is written by Telstra.

Telstra has shown by this text from slide 12 of their last leaked presentation that their staff are not important to the future business needs. especially the last comment it is copied as was on the slide. The last line was in size 24 font and in RED text. Our decisions are informed by our customer and business needs We engage with our people directly Our arrangements enhance our people’s capacity to meet our customer needs We pay for high performance and incentivise for results We are implementing a long-term plan (2007 - 2011) “Our future arrangements must meet our business objectives and the needs of our customers and shareholders” (WHAT ABOUT YOUR STAFF)

Jason, I don't have to read any book to appreciate the fact that Telstra is the only entity that provides the likes of your good self with an essential service. It used to be provided by taxpayers but is now provided by Telstra shareholders who bear the full risk.

Shareholders parted with sixty billion dollars to acquire the copper network and will, most likely, be called upon the fund the FTTN renovations and take on more risk. Mike Wright, Executive Director Telstra Wireless said recently, "The expansive coverage and high speeds of Telstra’s 3GSM HSPA Next G™ network are delivering superior consumer experiences and increasingly enabling significant health and educational applications, One example is Australia’s Royal Flying Doctor Service that now takes to the skies with a Telstra Next G™ turbo modem and video phone as part of their essential medical supplies kit, giving their staff secure access to patient records and other data necessary to make informed critical care decisions" and whilst Telstra's Next G can fill the gap FTTN is an asset of Australia's national interest and will be built. Albeit, the trend is clearly in wireless applications.

In this connection I invite your attention to the following report. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Broadband-unplugged-HURR8?OpenDocument&src=kgb.

Just think though Vasso, if they treat there staff with no respect, Telstra will fail to operate to the standards you speak of.

Vasso, what does "providing the likes of your good self with an essential service" have to do with the proposed agreement? That must be one of the worst tangents I have ever seen. Back on topic. This agreement wouldn't get my vote if I were in wholesale - particularly because there are no guidelines on how performance will be judged. My recent team managers have made comment on AWA bonuses that there is a set budget to be given out. I guess this is going to go the same way - so if you do everything you need to reach your targets, dont be surprised to see a lower than expected performance result, giving you a lower bonus to keep inside budgets.

Gentlemen, let me explain by reiterating my opening post "the most important asset of a company is, its PEOPLE. Telstra is to be congratulated for doing the right thing by them without prompts from unions. Julia Gillard, please Nota Bene."

...Jason I entirely agree with your statement but am at a loss to figure out what led you to the conclusion that Telstra do not respect their staff.

Phil, I took Jason's initial post as an attempt to paint Telstra as a two bit company of no substance. Clearly, I misread his meaning.

Nevertheless, getting back to the topic I shall refrain from commenting simply because I am not acquainted with the workings of Telstra's wholesale division but the object of Employee Collective Agreements is to resolve matters of this nature and I am confident they have been resolved. What needs to be borne in mind by all concerned is the risky nature of the business thus staff benefits derived through Employee Collective Agreements or unions involvement do not amount to much if the wholesale division itself becomes redundant through technological advancements.

Q. When is a 20% payrise not a 20% payrise? When you read up to a 20% payrise you assume that an employee earning $50,000 pa now could be earning upto $60,000 pa at the end of this agreement! Apparently this is not the case. The 2.5% (maximum) performance bonuses are paid as a lump sum each year and are not cumulative. In truth an employee can earn up to 15% more…12.5% in guaranteed payrises and a bonus of up to 2.5% each year. Why the deception on the headline item for the current agreement? Base Rate Possible Bonus TOTAL Current $50,000.00 1st Rise $52,250.00 $1,250.00 $53,000.00 2nd Rise $54,340.00 $1,306.25 $55,646.25 3rd Rise $56,513.60 $1,358.50 $57,872.10