The Service Stream (and BSA in some states), subbies are outraged over the totally unacceptable fines being served up by Management under Telstra pressure. The fines are unjustified, unproven and cost several times more than the payment for the original job. No one disputes the fact that on occasions some fines may be justified for shoddy or incorrect work, but this appears to be just a money-grabbing exercise by Service Stream/Telstra. The biggest mass meeting of Service Stream subbies took place in Melbourne on Thursday afternoon, 18th September. Not only are the subbies outraged by the fines to be levied on jobs done months ago, this is the straw that broke the camel’s back after years of mistreatment by the contracting companies. These issues of concern to the subbies (apart from the fines), were highlighted in the following letter sent to Service Stream Management by many subbies recently. Management hasn’t even had the courtesy to reply to the issues.
Dear Mr. Kenyon, I write to you on behalf of my company to place before you some serious issues for my company and its relationship to the Services Stream, Telecommunications work. I wish to place before you the following items of major concern, that are having a serious detrimental effect on my company and its profitability. * I estimate that my company is in need of at least an immediate 10% increase in TOW rates. Not only has there been on increase to cover increasing costs, there have been reductions under some conditions. * I require that TOW be spread over the week days Monday to Friday, as existed previously and as was envisaged when I entered the contract with Service Stream and that weekend work be considered non-compulsory. * I object to being “forced” to carry out unpaid work in various situations. This clearly has an impact on my companies bottom line. * I seek a review of some TOW and particularly where the remuneration does not equate to the time required to complete the job. * Given the rate at which costs are increasing (petrol, groceries, interest rates, rents etc) I am seeking an agreement for an increase of all rates by an amount at least equivalent to the Consumer Price Increase (CPI) each year. * I am concerned to ensure that the length of the working day is strictly regulated in order to prevent serious, detrimental OH&S impacts on company operatives. * I believe there should be at least a re-alignment of responsibility in terms of costs and payments, on such issues as van signage, “not homes/not dones”, compulsory training and other matters. * There should be a review of the “intact” services arrangements. I seek discussions with Service Stream as soon as possible to explore these issues.
Management is ignoring the subbies on these issues and the fines.
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