Yesterday Telstra, who now owns Kaz, sent out new employment contracts to the ex-Kaz staff IT people, severely cutting back redundancy and retrenchment entitlements, and wait for it, stating that all employees were to work reasonable unpaid overtime. When the Telstra lawyer and the Telstra HR Director were asked what the definition of "reasonable hours" overtime meant, they were unable to answer. Here we go again .. . . thanks Johnnie "Battler's Friend" Howard
What do you expect Telstra have been the worst employer in Australia for a few decades now. They are truely on the cutting edge of Winston's lack of industrial sense policies. They were talking about expected un paid overtime 20 years ago
These four models may be top-end but they are cheap enough to avoid the luxury car tax hike. Drive put them to the test. RICHARD BLACKBURN reports.The move sparked much outcry, with the car industry claiming the $57,123 threshold that defines a luxury car for tax purposes is too low.
So to promote further debate of this important topic, Drive has gathered together four taxQuestionnaires handed to a businessman in Beijing's east also demanded full technical details of the company computer network and a hand-drawn map of Internet connections.
Beijing has ramped up security ahead of the Games, with missile launchers guarding the main venues and a special 100,000-strong security force on the alert for terrorists.
Residents of the capital have got used to over-zealous police intruding into their lives. Visitors, even those who stay only one night, are expected to register at the local police station. Police sometimes call to ask why if they do not.
Compounds in the city centre have demanded even long-term residents carry special identity cards, while one restaurant owner said his staff had been warned by police not to speak to foreign customers about anything but their orders.
But the police forms seen by Reuters, which were aimed at Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japanese businessmen and foreign non-government workers, were unusually intrusive with detailed personal questions, some of which implied a criminal record.
Among some over 100 categories to be filled were "the last time of breaking the law", date of release from prison and source of funds. The document also asked about "cultural level" — or educational background — distinguishing features, and favourite hangouts.
They appeared to be internal police documents, said the businessman who asked not to be named because he feared retaliation for handing the forms to foreign journalists.
"It just seems like everyone is terrified ahead of the Olympics that something will happen on their patch so they are overreacting," the businessman asked to fill them in said.
"If I'd known the city was going to be like this I would have left for the Games," he told Reuters.
On Monday, religious extremists killed 16 police in the restive West in an attack the government said aimed to disrupt the Games, and which appeared to justify some of the concerns.
But critics say the security lockdown risks cloaking the host city in an oppressive atmosphere — with live music and outdoor parties banned at some venues, security checks to get on the subway and tens of thousand of migrant workers and others deemed undesirable pushed out of the city.
Reuters, 08/08/08
A glimpse into the future of Western Life
The us has already started to catalog everyone who comes in, under the excuse of an 'ism'.
Eleven Sunshine Coast truck drivers will share a $34,000 windfall after the Workplace Ombudsman uncovered underpayments of overtime and penalty rates.
Eleven Sunshine Coast truck drivers will share a $34,000 windfall after the Workplace Ombudsman uncovered underpayments of overtime and penalty rates.
Workplace Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson said the underpayments, by a company he refused to name, justified his organisation's targeting of the trucking industry.
He said investigations found the small company had underpaid 11 of its 14 drivers a total of $34,458.
"We have found that the company was not paying correct penalty rates or overtime," Mr Wilson said.
"We also discovered it had wrongly deducted mobile phone charges, which in some weeks, left drivers with little or no pay at all."
Mr Wilson said road transport was at "high risk" of breaching the Workplace Relations Act, given his office had received more than 2,500 claims about it over the past two years.
Workplace Ombudsman inspectors began auditing the company's books in February following a confidential complaint.
Mr Wilson said the company had cooperated fully and was voluntarily reimbursing employees amounts from $241 to $9,454.
The underpayments date back to March, 2006.
Mr Wilson said while legal action would not be taken against the company over its mistakes, he warned there would be no excuse for it failing to comply with workplace laws in future.
Letters have been sent to 9,500 businesses around the country advising that up to 700 would be randomly selected for audit.
In Queensland, inspectors will focus on checking short distance freight companies to ensure they are complying with minimum rates, minimum shifts, split shift provisions and allowances, pay slips and time sheets.
A spokesman for the Workplace Ombudsman said employers were only named if a matter went to court.
Transport Workers Union state secretary Hughie Williams said companies caught underpaying workers should be named regardless.
"If they're prepared to commit an offence by underpaying their workers, prospective workers should know who they are," he said.
"They could have been prosecuted, so they should be named."
aap 7 Jul 2008
Always this veil of secrecy, when it comes to corporations. When an individual 'steals' a $0.50 item from a department store, a criminal conviction IS recorded against their name.
11 workers $34,000 total, therefore approx $3,100 per worker average.
Telstra is responsible for a fraud that is worth approx $6.5 million per annum.
Telstra defrauded its workers approx $6,600 each on average.
Lets see if the Workplace Ombudsman will give a similar victory to those workers.
The answer will be NO.
Stay tuned here for further results.
Update : 13 AUG 2008 - Letter has been sent to the Workplace Ombudsman.
If one is a frequent coffee connoisseur, then acquiring a discount card is a sensible idea.
French fries and potato chips have never been the most healthy snack choice and never will be. Not only are they detrimental to the body in terms of high fat content, they also contain a potentially cancer-causing chemical known as acrylamide.The chemical forms naturally when starchy foods are baked or fried and became of international concern in 2002 when unexpectedly high amounts were discovered in produce. Over 200 research projects around the world have taken place since to determine the true threat to consumers.
The majority of findings, according to the UK’s Food Standards Agency, have found that the levels we actually eat are at least 1000 times lower than the dose found to cause cancer in lab rates.
As the precise danger posed to humans consuming foods containing acrylamide is unknown, the agency’s advice is that people eat a balanced healthy diet and limit the amount of fried foods such as crisps and chips to an occasional treat.
However, in a small win for health this week, four major food manufacturers in the States have agreed to reduce levels of the chemical.
Food giants J.J. Heinz Co., Firto-Lay, Kettle foods inc. and Lance Inc have agreed to pay a combined $3 million (US) in fines for not including warning labels about the high levels of the chemical and will also reduce the amount in future products.
The new move, ordered by Attorney General Jerry Brown in the US, has been referred to as a victory for public health and a lead that other manufacturers should follow.
ninemsn 4 Aug 2008
Ahmad Fahrul Rosi, 23, told Denpasar District Court he only intended to steal ( so that makes it ok??? !!! ) , not kill, when he broke into Heidi Murphy's Bali villa on February 10 this year.
Murphy was allegedly stabbed 37 times (so where did the knife come from? or was it a butter knife and he was planning to cake her do death and it went horribly wrong ??? !!! ) after she woke and found Rosi robbing her house.
"I would like to apologise to both the parents and family of Heidi Murphy for what I have done which caused her death," Rosi told the court.
"My intention was only to steal because I was pushed by economic needs and the result of that burglary was meant to buy a ring and to fund my marriage.
"I did that because both of my parents could not afford to give me (this) and I didn't expect at all that the incident would be something like this.
"By God's name, I didn't have any intention to do this."
Prosecutors have requested Rosi be found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
But Rosi's lawyer I Nyoman Karsana on Monday urged the court to free his client of the charges.
"In this criminal case, the defendant ... clearly had no intention and purpose to kill so that sentence demanded by the prosecutor ... is unacceptable," he said.
Karsana said Rosi panicked after hearing a computer alarm and Murphy screaming.
Rosi allegedly stole two mobile phones, a laptop computer and cash, which he used to buy an engagement ring for his girlfriend in East Java. (someone's LIFE is worth an engagement ring from a piece of TRASH)
He was arrested after he used the stolen mobile phone to make calls. (NOT very smart either, probably with the IQ of the average temperature in ALSAKA )
Rosi also apologised (thank goodness for that, now he has a clear conscious) to the judges and prosecutors.
"I admit to all my mistakes ( ??? !!! mistake eg. run someone over accidentally, NOT STAB them 37 TIMES !!) and I realise that my action has violated law which the consequence is jail for me," he said.
"I surrender Mr Judge, even though it feels so heavy the punishment that I must bear because I'm aware that this is definitely not as sad as has been felt by both parents and the family of Heidi Murphy for losing the person they loved.
"I'm also aware that my action has tainted and slandered Bali's image as tourist destination."
He said he had been unable to find a job in Bali to help support his ageing parents, who are farmers.
"Please, honorary judges, consider being ... a little bit more lenient with me so that I can have the chance to improve my life and so that I can do good deeds to others for now and for the future," Rosi said.
"I also beg and ask for the greatest forgiveness from the parents and family of Heidi Murphy who have lost their most loving daughter.
"I also offer an apology to my own parents for causing this very deep pain."
In a separate hearing, Rosi's alleged accomplice in the murder - 28-year-old Indonesian construction worker Nuryanto Bin Sudar - said he was surprised and confused about the murder.
"I didn't know anything about the murder ... I only knew about the burglary," said Nuryanto, who could face up to 10 years imprisonment.
Judges are expected to hand down their verdict in the next few weeks.
aap 4 Aug 2008
No surprise there as to the verdict, because the victim is not a national of the country.
I now believe that Telstra/KAZ just don't care for their staff.
I have been issued a new contract also.
Conditions of employment were just extremely "less" than 2003 contract.
I put together a list of items to discuss for ammendment inclussion and assist both KAZ and myself to find an agreement
I was advised by KAZ HR in conference calls with KAZ staff, that the current contract will no longer be changed except for those changes agreed as per the “Contract Re-Issue Q&A”.
I tried to provide HR with an alternate option of adding of a “Schedule and/or Amendment” as part of my contract.
This approach is in line to the "Resolving Disagreements” policies at KAZ. That is discussing the issues internally within KAZ.
The items I suggested were:
Adding the company holding the salary continuance arrangement applicable to the my employment.
-> This was denied by KAZ HR
Adding that KAZ accepts my home business as no impact to my current KAZ duties and approves me working under this contract.
-> This was denied by KAZ HR
Adding that copyright ownership does not include those created under my home business. KAZ states that copyrights, intelectual of otherwise, are those items created during KAZ's business hours (Mon-Fri 7am 8pm and SAT 7am to 12noon)
-> This was denied by KAZ HR
Adding that that changes in legislation regarding the Minimum Superannuation Guarantee contributions will not affect the employee base salary under this contract. KAZ new contract leaves the Minimum Super Guarantee to be handled any way they want when they want.... no choice to the employee... as this is now part of the contract, if you do not agree, and an ammendment like the one in this paragraph is not accepted by KAZ, then "NO JOB"..
-> This was denied by KAZ HR
Adding that any alternate role will not be permanent partime, nor will reduce my salary due to such change. KAZ wants to hold the right to change your full time job to part time if so they please...
-> This was denied by KAZ HR
Adding that On-Call payments will stay. New contract says it is now included in my salary
-> This was denied by KAZ HR
Adding that KAZ will provide redundancy should I be relocated to another state permanently and Should I not agree.
-> This was denied by KAZ HR
Adding that any variations to my specific job role will require review and agreement of my current contract. With non-agreement equating to KAZ providing redundancy.
-> This was denied by KAZ HR
Adding that KAZ business hours, applicable to this contract, do not include public holidays nor state holidays, and requires employee agreement and consent to work on public holidays. New contract states business hours do not EXCLUDE HOLIDAYS of any sort, and are to be adheared to, however they are part of the business policies, and can change from time to time without prior notification, nor employee agreement.
-> This was denied by KAZ HR
Adding that personal/sick/carer’s is of 10 working days, instead of 10 days. As per business hours policies, 10 days would count weekends, and holidays.
-> This was denied by KAZ HR
Adding that "Actual Overtime" will be paid when KAZ asks to work on public holidays or Weekends.
-> This was denied by KAZ HR
Adding that “reasonable overtime” is no more than 3 to 5 hours over the 7.6 hours standard hours. and any excess should be paid as "Actual Overtime"
-> This was denied by KAZ HR
Adding that for working hours calculation purposes, KAZ standard 38 hour week on average over a 52 week includes “Standard business hours” and “Reasonable overtime” only.
-> This was denied by KAZ HR
Adding that my “fixed remuneration” will not be decreased if goverment should increase the Minimum Goverment Super Guarantee. KAZ wants to have the Super increases to come out of my base salary, or left up to the Remuneration team to do as they please.
-> This was denied by KAZ HR
Adding that entitlements and redundancy will be applicable as per Australian Industrial Relations legislation applicable at the time should KAZ terminate my employment.
-> This was denied by KAZ HR
Adding that confidentiality of information works both ways, and that upon KAZ request of employment termination, my personal and confidential information held by KAZ, will not be used in any way, internal or external to KAZ, with exceptions covered by applicable legislation.
-> This was denied by KAZ HR
As most of the contract is based on KAZ policies, which can change at any time, I requested to add that KAZ or Telstra policies will have no impact to any of the items in the requested changes above.
-> This was denied by KAZ HR
What I see here is quite plain:
- Telstra wants to change contracts to reduce the job conditions, but not the job itself.
- I don't see any need for contracts to be "reduced/changed" and still do the same work, for the same customers, from the same location, for the same managers, EXCEPT if KAZ wants to reduce their contract conditions, as they cannot change current contracts.
It is not IR, it is just an excuse to reduce employee work conditions and grip on contract amendemnts.