Telecommunications
Government to fund retraining of Telstra employees
(6 July 2010) As part of the overall agreement for Telstra participation in the NBN project, the Federal Government has announced it will make up to $100 million available for the retraining and redeployment of Telstra staff to participate in the NBN project. The union is seeking to better understand where the funding will sit eg training providers selected to assist with retaining employees.
While the allocation of work on the NBN is, strictly speaking, a matter for NBN Co, the grant is the strongest public indication yet that the Government envisages Telstra playing a significant role in the NBN roll-out.
It is good news in particular for those CEPU members whose current work is focussed on the copper Customer Access Network (CAN). Telstra has indicated that it will use the funding to boost fibre-related skills, providing a transition path for those whose skills may no longer be needed when the CAN is decommissioned.
Fibre skills will also allow CEPU members to work on the provision of fibre and fibre-based services in greenfields estates. Although, as explained above, this will become the responsibility of NBN Co from 1 January 2011, NBN Co can be expected to contract out this work to other companies, including Telstra.
Provision of the training funds is, of course, dependent on the agreement between Telstra and NBN Co being finalised and endorsed by Telstra shareholders. This means that no money is expected to flow until the 2011-12 financial year.
For more information, contact the CEPU via feedback@cepu.asn.au