The campaign against unfair AWAs at GTS : Melbourne Indymedia

The campaign against unfair AWAs at GTS
14 August 2006

Since the release of the report by the Victorian Workplace Rights Advocate, Tony Lawrence, there has been a great deal of interest and support for the struggle against the unfair AWA offered by Global Tele Sales (GTS). The offering of the AWAs has also been a hot topic of debate in Federal Parliament.

In question time on 10 August the Federal Minister for Workplace Relations, Kevin Andrews, sought to discredit the role of the ASU and the ACTU in exposing the unfair nature of the GTS AWA.

Minister Andrews misrepresented the facts surrounding the offering of the AWA and the role of the ASU in supporting employees of GTS during this stressful time for staff.

In Federal Parliament Minister Andrews also criticised the independent report of the Victorian Workplace Rights Advocate. Minister Andrews was relying on information provided by GTS's lawyers Blake Dawson Waldron. He tabled a letter from Blake Dawson Waldron to the Workplace Rights Advocate written on the instruction of GTS. Copies of this correspondence are available upon request. In summary the correspondence asserts that there have been no complaints from staff about the AWA so therefore no reason for the AWA to be investigated.

Minister Andrews is quoted as saying, "There's not even an employee complaint about this matter, which the union themselves took to the Workplace Advocate."

In response the ALP Shadow Minister Stephen Smith said in question time, "Why won't the Minister just admit that these employees will be worse off under the Government's wages race to the bottom?"

The Secretary of the ACTU, Greg Combet has also come out in support of GTS staff and said, "Eighty workers at the GTS Call Centre in Melbourne are being asked to sign AWA / individual contracts that cut their take home pay. It is completely deceitful of the Minister to assert that the workers do not want the Union to represent them. In fact the Australian Services Union has members there but the Company refuses to deal with the Union and the employees are scared of losing their jobs if they speak out."

We would prefer that the politicians stick to the facts. In criticising the report of the Victorian Workpalce Rights Advocate the Federal Government is simply shooting the messenger. What about the fact that the Howard Government has changed the industrial laws to allow employers to cut workers' wages and conditions in this manner?

Global solidarity

In continuing support for the campaign, over 6000 emails internationally have been sent to GTS in protest against the unfair AWAs and the potentially discriminatory Bonus Scheme.

In fact, after the media attention last week over 1000 emails were sent in just 24 hours!

Strangely, even though many of the emails are from regular Lufthansa passengers, GTS is yet to reply to anyone.

What next?

The ASU is considering what legal avenues may be available in light of the Victorian Workplace Rights Advocate's report.

The Office of Workplace Services may now have been in touch with staff as a result of the Victorian Workplace Rights Advocate (WRA) referring one aspect of the AWA to them for further investigation. The Victorian WRA wants the Office of Workplace Services to investigate whether any duress was applied to staff to accept the AWA. He has asked for this investigation because the Company's material to staff provided different inducements and detriments depending on whether an AWA was signed or not.

If you receive a letter from the Office of Workplace Services please contact the ASU for advice in relation to this.

If you would like a full copy of the Victorian Workplace Rights Advocate's report or a copy of the correspondence from Blake Dawson Waldron tabled in Federal Parliament by Minister Andrews please contact the ASU Victorian Private Sector Branch on 03 9320 6700 or info@asupsvic.org

Contact Details

Name : Linda White
Telephone : (03) 9342 1400
Facsimile : (03) 9342 1499
E-mail : airlines@asu.asn.au
WWW : http://www.asu.asn.au/airlines/