Open Letter to Theresa Gattung
Ray Harley
I am writing to you in regards to your roadshow yesterday, Wed 16th October,
at the Sheraton hotel.
Specifically, the non-pay rises for certain staff employed by Telecom. This
group of people, of whom I am one, has not received a pay rise for three
years in a row. This has had a profound affect on staff concerned morale.
We have chosen to remain on a Deemed individual contract, while waiting for
Telecom to renegotiate a new collective with our union. This is a right
given to us under the Employment Relations Act. We feel that our existing
contract is better for us, in our situation, than any contract that Telecom
has offered to us over the years.
However, by choosing this contract, Telecom has decided to penalise us by
not giving anyone on the old collective a pay rise. We do the same work as
everyone else employed in the same area, we work the same hours, and it
could be said, because of the length of service of most of us, we provide
expertise that only experience can provide.
Staff morale for this group of people is extremely low. We feel that Telecom
does not value us, or respect us, in the same way that it treats its other
staff. While we are aware of the differences in the contracts, we do not ask
for the bonus that applies to other staff. That is part of their contract
that they have chosen, and we respect their right to do so. But when
everyone else gets a pay rise, and we are excluded, it would appear that we
are actively been discriminated against, or at the least, the good faith
relationship does not appear to be working.
I would also like to point out that Simon Moutter's memo outlining his
policy on nil pay rises for people on expired collective contracts, or
non-approved individual contracts confirms in our minds that Telecom has
different policies on dealing with its staff. This is inconsistent with
maintaining a good faith relationship with its staff. It makes us feel as
though Telecom does not value the contribution that we make, and that we are
treated differently even though we do exactly the same type of work as
everyone else. I feel that even you would complain if the woman in Telecom
were paid less than their male counterparts, or were refused a pay rise due
to their sex. Is there a difference between sexual discrimination, and
discrimination due to union or political affiliation? Both are
discrimination, and Telecom supposedly prides itself on being an equal
opportunity employer.
I look forward to you comments
Ray Harley
Technical Officer
Network Provisioning
Auckland
The Hobbit
"Ray Harley" <raymond...@telecom.co.nz> wrote in message
news:DUGr9.8248$Os6.1...@news.xtra.co.nz...
> Dear Theresa,
>
> I am writing to you in regards to your roadshow yesterday, Wed 16th
October,
> at the Sheraton hotel.
> We have chosen to remain on a Deemed individual contract, while waiting
for
> Telecom to renegotiate a new collective with our union. This is a right
> given to us under the Employment Relations Act. We feel that our existing
> contract is better for us, in our situation, than any contract that
Telecom
> has offered to us over the years.
This is a question for anyone on a collective contract...
I'm interested to hear your reasoning for letting another person negotiate a
contract for you. I've always been able to get a better deal for myself on
an individual contract - what's the attraction with sticking to the herd?
Peter B.
<Bilbo....@bag.end.invalid> commented:
To blame someone else if you don't get what you really want? (:-))
Paul Long
"The Hobbit" <Bilbo....@bag.end.invalid> wrote in message
news:WyMs9.9465$Os6.1...@news.xtra.co.nz...
The Hobbit
"Paul Long" <paul...@xtra.co.nz> wrote in message
news:m5tt9.497$8o1....@news.xtra.co.nz...
> Who are you and who do you work for ?
What has that got to do with my question?
(please don't top post - it's annoying and confusing)