Terria gets unions on board

The Terria broadband consortium is finalising a deal with key telecommunications unions which would see the groups negotiate a collective agreement in the event of Terria winning the Federal Government's $4.7 billion broadband contract.

ACTU assistant secretary Tim Lyons confirmed the deal in a statement this morning, saying it would also include clauses relating to the joint development of initiatives to assist Terria in recruiting, training and deploying the employees it will need.

The news comes as Telstra's relationship with its key unions has recently struck a low, with the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union heading to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission last week to seek permission to hold industrial action in Telstra's operations around the country.

"It is essential for major projects such as the national broadband network to be underpinned by a stable and secure enterprise agreement," said Lyons. "Other large infrastructure projects do this, and the broadband network should be no different."

In an email to Lyons seen by ZDNet.com.au, Terria chairman Michael Egan wrote the broadband consortium was "increasingly confident" of winning the National Broadband Network rights, both because of the quality of its bid and the "refusal of Telstra" to engage with what Egan said were public policy objectives set by the Rudd Labor government.

Terria chairman Michael Egan
(Credit: Terria)

"Good management, of course, requires good industrial relations and a harmonious workplace," he added. "Terria would be interested, therefore in commencing a dialogue with the ACTU about how this might be achieved."

Egan said the agreement could be along the lines of the landmark "Olympic agreement" between the NSW Government and the trade union, which helped deliver the Sydney Olympics in the year 2000.