Telstra workers urged to come forward with information on AWA investigation

The call comes as the Commonwealth Workplace Ombudsman’s continues its investigation into allegations brought by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) and the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) that Telstra has breached the Workplace Relations Act 1996 by applying undue pressure to more than 14,000 of its employees to accept the AWA re-offered to them by the company.

Also being investigated is Telstra’s allegation that these organisations also breached the Workplace Relations Act 1996 by subjecting Telstra employees to false or misleading statements about the re-offered AWA.

The ACTU, CPSU and CEPU are providing information to the Workplace Ombudsman in support of their allegations. Telstra is cooperating with the investigation and has supplied all documentation and information requested by the Workplace Ombudsman to date.

Michael Campbell, Workplace Ombudsman’s executive director of External Affairs, said any Telstra employees with information about undue pressure being applied to them or others to accept the AWA, or those with knowledge about false or misleading information being spread to Telstra employees, should get in touch with the Ombudsman immediately.

“There is protection under the Workplace Relations Act 1996 for any Telstra worker whose employment is injured as a result of them assisting the Workplace Ombudsman’s investigation,” he said.

According to the government body, around 14,000 Telstra employees can visit the new Telstra investigation section on the Workplace Ombudsman’s website if they believe that they or others have been subject to undue pressure or false or misleading information in connection with Telstra’s re-offer of the AWA.